The Old Low Light Heritage Centre is the oldest surviving building on North Shields Fish Quay, dating back hundreds of years as one of a pair of leading lights guiding ships through the treacherous mouth of the Tyne.
Over time, the building has been an important part of the town’s rich seafaring past. After it was no longer needed as a leading light, it became an alms house providing support for poor and sick mariners. It was later used for storage for the local fishing industry, a training centre for deep sea fishermen and until 2011, the base for maritime volunteers.
Against this background, it is fitting that today, it is still shining a light, but now on North Shields’s great heritage and history.
In 2013, the building was disused and some local people, passionate about bringing stories of the area’s past to life and inspiring others to find out more about North Shields, got the opportunity to develop the Old Low Light as a heritage centre. They set up a charity called The Net, with a board of trustees and with support from North Tyneside Council, funding was secured from the European Union’s Coastal Communities Fund.
From the outset it was important that the heritage centre delivered what the community wanted, so local people were consulted, and many varied views were listened to.
Major restoration took place and in 2015 the Old Low Light Heritage Centre was officially opened.
Almost ten years later, the centre has weathered the challenges presented by the pandemic and more recently, the cost-of-living crisis, and continues to be a much-valued community venue.
It has a busy café, a small gift shop with items by local artists and artisans, a heritage gallery for exhibitions, a balcony with spectacular views of the river, while the top floor offers community space for local people and groups to hire and a is venue for fitness sessions, workshops, music events and concerts.
Volunteers, working with a small staff team, are key to the centre’s day to day operation, providing support in many ways. They work with staff in the café, at the ‘front of house’ welcoming visitors and explaining about the building’s history and the exhibitions on display, researching, curating and designing exhibitions, leading heritage walks, giving talks on a wide variety of local topics, providing live music sessions, supporting other events and activities and tending to floral displays outside.
Volunteers also provide tailored programmes for visits by local schools and colleges.
Centre director, Guy Moody said: “The Old Low Light is all about the community. We have the support of many volunteers who give their time freely to make sure that the
centre provides a welcoming venue where local people can find out about North Shields and its fish quay, by visiting our exhibitions or attending our walks, talks or other events and activities.
“By working with the community and local organisations, we are continually bringing to life stories about the area’s history, heritage and natural environment, including some of the industries and people that have made North Shields such a great place.”
Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 3pm. For more information go to oldlowlight.co.uk or follow us on X/Twitter and Facebook
