During the Second World War, North Shields was subject to devastating bombing raids, during which hundreds of people were killed. Year 6 children at New York Primary School have been learning about the devastating impact on the town with the help of Bryan Dixon from AmberSide.
Through the project ‘The Bombing of North Shields’, the children carried out real-world research and learned practical documentary photography skills to explore the lasting consequences of the bombings. Using old photos and maps, they worked out walking routes of the many sites where bombs had fallen around the town to observe the effect they had on the area.
Among the places they visited on their photo walks were Little Bedford Street, Railway Street, Stanley Street West, Stormont Street, Saville Street, Nile Street and Albion Road. Armed with their route maps, they looked out for signs of bomb damage, such as newer houses in between the old, referred to by locals as ‘in-fill’ houses, replaced roofs and windows, remaining ruins and odd gaps between buildings. Residents came out of their houses to share knowledge of where certain bombs had hit. For example, the pupils were fascinated to learn about how flying gravestones from South Preston Cemetery had caused damage to houses several streets away.
The children were privileged to hear a real-life account of the night of May 3rd 1941, when a bomb hit the Wilkinson Lemonade Factory, killing 107 people in the air raid shelter below. Visiting the site of the tragedy on the corner of King Street and George Street, the pupils stood transfixed as they listened to 99-year-old Millie Mathews tell them how the brave air raid warden, Ellen Lee, had rescued her from the wreckage at the age of 14.
At school the pupils had researched the victims of the disaster using the book ‘North Shields 173’ by Peter Bolger, but meeting someone who was actually there really brought home the reality of what happened. In addition to this, the children paid a special visit to the victims’ graves in Preston Cemetery, where they placed a single red carnation by each one. They were visibly moved by the sight of the gravestones, which are all laid out in a series of rows to set them apart from the others. The pupils sensitively documented the occasion by taking some poignant and affecting photos.
The project culminated in the photo exhibition at New York Primary School. It was striking to see old images depicting the damage that was done side by side with photos of how the sights look today. The contrasting images were accompanied by simple descriptions indicating signs of previous bomb damage, such as a window on the old Princes Theatre on Russell Street, original parts of the Wesleyan Church on Coach Lane and evidence of the original wall in the Old Cemetery.
Year 6 pupils, Lexi and Mason, helpfully showed us around and offered further explanations, especially involving the Wilkinson Factory disaster. Learning about the tragedy had obviously left a deep impression: “Whole families lost their lives!” exclaimed Mason, who
talked about the individual victims in great detail. “This girl was only four years old!” Lexi proclaimed, pointing at a close-up photograph of the grave of Lillian Margaret Herrett.
Getting to know real people and places through the AmberSide project has allowed the children to engage with their town’s history in a unique way. In addition to learning historical facts they have realised the power of documentary photography in conveying personal stories and preserving memories for generations to come.
