History & Heritage

In a kitchen overflowing with memorabilia, Carol Alevroyianni and Richard 'Brod' Broderick reflect on their unforgettable years shaping the iconic North Shields Fish Quay Festival. From humble beginnings in 1987—born from a fisherman’s idea for a party—to becoming one of Europe’s largest free festivals, their story is one of creativity, community, and cultural transformation. Through world-class music, street theatre, and a celebration of maritime heritage, the festival left a lasting legacy that still inspires today. As they now pour their energy into the Whitley Bay Carnival, their commitment to bringing people together through art and celebration continues to shine.

International Women’s Day 2025, on March 8, is focusing on accelerating action for women’s equality. One local woman who devoted her life to this cause...

Explore North Shields’ wild past — when it was known as “England’s most drunken town,” packed with 200 pubs, sailors, scandals and smoky taverns.

How a small house on Washington Terrace became the birthplace of Scarlet Women — a radical 1970s feminist publication that gave women a voice, challenged patriarchy, and reshaped the fight for equality from the heart of North Shields

By Keith Newman | Highlights PR Andrea Hewitson, a talented author from Rowlands Gill, has released her debut children’s novel, A Flight in Time. The...

Back in 1956, Eddie Rowley put a set of overalls on over his collar and tie, stood on a chair and began to paint...

For more than 70 years people from North Shields have enjoyed holidays on the beautiful Patterdale Estate near Ullswater. Few will be aware of that...

By Diane Wailes Lena Margaret Ashwell (née Pocock) had a rather unusual start in life. Her father was Commander of HMS Wellesley, an old gun...

By Simmie Harper Recently, I had the opportunity to delve into the North Shields Library, and what I found was nothing short of amazing! Thanks...

Each year, from early summer to late autumn, North Shields became a focal point for the “herring girls,” a group of women who journeyed...