SHIELDS, NORTH, Northumberland, is market-town, sea-port, and conjointly with the village of Tynemouth a parliamentary borough, in the parish of Tynemouth, is situated on the left bank and near the mouth of the river Tyne, in 55° 1' N. lat., 1° 26' W. long., distant 7 mats E. by N. from Newcastle, 279 miles N.N.W. from London by road, and 301 mils by the North-Western, and York Newautle and Berwick railways. The population of the township of North Shields In 1S51 was 8882. The living of North Shields is a curacy, annexed to the vicarage of Tynemouth, in the archdoacoury of Northumberland and diocese of Durham.
North Shields first rose about the time of Edward I., under the protection of the Prior of Tynemouth, but its growth at that time was checked by the burgesses of Newcastle, who obtained a decree which compelled the prior to destroy the buildings which he had erected. The place continued in obscurity until Cromwell, in the time of the Commonwealth, caused an act to ho passed for forming quays and establishing a market. The restrictions on the trade of the place were subsequently removed, and the town rose iu importance. It now extends about a mile along the Tyne, opposite South Shields. The town is lighted with gas. The parish church of Tyncmouth is at the eastern end of North Shields. There is a chapel of ease. A new church was completed in 1836. The Wesleyan, Primitive, and New Connexion Methodists, English Presbyterians, United Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists, Quakers, and Roman Catholics have places of worship. There are in the town National, British. and Infant schools ; a school of industry for girls, partly endowed ; a Presbyterian school; a Roman Catholic school ; a savings bank ; a handsome building for the anbacription library ; a mechanics institute ; a theatre ; assembly rooms; and commodious baths.
North Shields is a place of great trade. Numerous collieries are in the neighbourhood; ships of 300 tons can load at the quays. There is a great export of coals, chiefly to London and the eastern coasts of England and Scotland. Several vessels are engaged in the Greenland and Davis's Straits whale fishery. The number' and tonnage of vessels registered as belonging to the port of Shields on December 31st, 1853, were, under 50 tons, 17 sailing-vessels of 545 tons, and 82 steam vessels of 1646 tons ; above 50 tons, 763 sailing-vessels of 201,104 tons. During 1853 there entered the port, in the coasting trade, 666 Failing-vessels of 66,468 tons, and 29 steam-vessels of 492 tons; and cleared, 1413 sailing-vessels of 151,897 tons, and 23 steam-vessels of 451 tons. In the colonial trade there entered 31 sailing-vessels of 9538 tons, and cleared 45 sailing-vessels of 17,538 tons. In the foreign trade there entered 541 British vessels of 109,665 tons, and 422 foreign vessels of 41,451 tons ; and there cleared 483 British vessels of 92,932 tons, and 634 foreign vessels of 74,256 tons. A steam ferry affords communication with South Shields; there are steamers to Newcastle, and a railway gives communication with Tyne mouth and with Newcastle. Ship-building, and the manufacture of sailcloth, cordage, chain-cables, and anchors, are actively carried on. Saltpans, breweries, a pottery, and brick- and tile-works employ many hands. A county court is held. Saturday is the market-day; fairs are held on the last Friday in April and the first Friday in November.