SHIELDS, SOUTH, Durham, a market-town, seaport, municipal and parliamentary borough, and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, in the pariah of Jarrow, is situated on the right bank and at the mouth of the river Tyne, in 53' N. lat., 1° 26' W. long., distant 20 miles N.N.E. from Durham, 276 miles N.N.W. from London by road, and 290 miles by the Great Northern, and York Newcastle and Berwick railways. The population of the borough of South Shields, which includes the townships of Westoe and South Shields, was 28,974 in 1851. The borough is governed by a mayor, aldermen, and councillors ; and returns one member to the Imperial Parliament. The living is a perpetual curacy in the nrchdeaconry and diocese of Durham. South Shields Poor. Law Union contains six townships, with an area of 15,477 acres, and a population in 1851 of 35,577.
Of Jarrow and its ancient Benedictine monastery some particulars will be found in our notice of the county of DURHAM. South Shields (anciently written Le Sheeles) has risen into importance with the extension of the coal-trade in modern times. One inscription which bee been dug up indicates that the Romans had a station here. The present town originated with the fishermen of the Tyne, who built here along the shore sheds, locally termed sheds' or to defend themselves from the weather.
The town of South Shields extends into the township of Westoe ; the modern Parte contain many good houses. The town is lighted with gas, nod has a good supply of water. In a large square near the centre of the town is the town-hall, used also as an exchange and news-room, and having a market-house beneath. The parochial
chapel has been so much altered that little of the ancient part can be traced, with the exception of the old tower. A chapel of ease is of modern erection, and there are two chapels for United Presbyterians, and one each for Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists, English Presbyterians, ndependents, and Baptists. There are National and Charity schools, a school supported by Presbyterians, and a savings bank. There is a set of 22 comfortable small houses for master mariners above 60 years of age. A great quantity of coal is brought down the river in keels, and shipped here : some coal-pits are in the immediate vicinity. The shipping returns for 1853 are included in those of NORTH SHIELDS. Ship-building is carried on with great activity. There are spacious docks for building and repairing ships; also extensive glass-works, a pottery, manufactories of soda and alum, breweries, and rope-walks. A numerous body of pilots aro employed for navigating vessels into the Tyne. At the mouth of the Tyne is a pilot tower. There is weekly communication •by steam-vessel with Hull and with Berwick-on-Tweed. A county court is held. The market is on Saturday ; two fairs are held, but they are indifferently attended. The town possesses a subscription library ; n literary, scientific, and mechanics institute; an exchange news-room ; public baths ; and a theatre.