Old maps of South Shields 1 and 2

These maps prepared in 1835 (1) and just prior to 1870 (2) show the growth and gradual encroachment of the villages of South Shields and Westoe towards each other.

1. Map South Shields. ca. 1835 Robert Creighton, engr. J.& C. Walker for Lewis' Topographical Dictionary. Durham Old Maps
2. South Shields: A composite map from Ordnance Survey first series maps 105SE - Newcastle and 105NE- Newcastle Historical maps: Topographic map series: A vision of Britain through time

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Colliers in the North Sea

This map of the North Sea shows most of the ports and other points of interest described in the articles. The origin, Port of Tyne, lay at the mouth of the river Tyne. The destinations were Rotterdam, Hamburg (the unlabelled marker on the right hand edge of the map on the river Elbe east of Bremerhaven) and Nieuwe Diep harbour in Den Helder (marked but unlabelled) at the tip of the peninsula opposite the island of Texel. Also noted is the island of Borkum where the Auspicious was wrecked on the reef. On the return journey, some colliers would lay over at Gravesend, on the south bank of the Thames east of London.

Most of the points of danger along the east coast of England referred to in the collier-men's song (4) are also visible on the map:

First the Dudgeon (A), then the Spurn, Flamborough Head is next in turn
Filey Brigg (B) is drawing nigh, Scarboro' Castle stands on high
Whitby Rock lies out to sea, So steer two points northerly
Huntscliffe Foot (C) is very high land, Twenty five miles from Sunderland (D)
Hartlepool lies in the bight, Seaham Harbour is now in sight (E)
The 'Old Man' says "if the weather's right, We'll be in the Tyne tomorrow night

(A) Dudgeon Shoal lies between Owers Bank and the mouth of the Humber - now the site of a wind farm. (B) Filey Brigg is a rocky outcrop north of the town of Filey midway between Flamborough Head and Scarborough. (C) Huntcliff Foot is a rocky formation in the sea below Warsett Hill near Brotton about 16 miles north west of Whitby. (D) Sunderland lies on the mouth of the river Wear twenty five miles south of South Shields. (E) Seaham Harbour is six miles south of Sunderland.

3. Adapted from 'Map No.23 North Sea - World War 1 period' © Gordon Smith. Naval-History.net
4. 'The uncomfortable journey' in Women's History Perils of the Passenger: English Heritage

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The changing face of the river Tyne estuary

The upper map shows the mouth of the River Tyne about 1849 before the construction of the north and south piers and the Groyne pier. The lower image is a detail from a map drawn about 1875. The numbers on the river on both charts are soundings showing the depth of the river in feet. The full maps are available directly above this section.

5. Map of the Tyne Estuary 1849 from The North East Maritime Trust March 2014
6. Map of Mouth of the River Tyne with North and South Shields 1875 The Internet Map Archive NSDK: New Society for the Diffusion of Knowledge. Used in accordance with guidance on the website

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A Mate's Certificate of Service

This certificate, issued at the Port of Shields on August 20th 1851, marked the completion of 18 years of service in the merchant marine. Two items are of particular interest. Firstly the year of his birth is given as 1822 which would indicate he was 11 years old when he started work. Secondly, the way he has signed his surname - indicating that he was consciously using the Nesworthy form.

Below is his statement of service submitted a few months earlier (January 14th 1851) in support of his claim for a Mates Certificate. His date of birth is repeated which shows that he started his apprenticeship aged 10 years and 3 months. Surprisingly too he claims to have acted as mate on a transatlantic vessel for a year in 1840 at the age of 18 years.

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Old maps of South Shields 1

Places of interest to the Nessworthy family in the second half of the nineteenth century. Detail of section A from the Mouth of the Tyne map above. This highlights the tiny passages and wynds which led from Shadwell Street in the vicinity of the old Custom House.

7. Detail from "Mouth of the Tyne" Old Ordnance Survey Maps (Tyneside Sheet 3) 1895 Jarrow & South Shields : The Godfrey Edition

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Old maps of South Shields 2

8. Detail from "South Shields" Old Ordnance Survey Maps (Tyneside Sheet 9) 1895 Jarrow & South Shields : The Godfrey Edition

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Elizabeth's 1911 England Census Return

The intriguing 1911 England census return which beginning the trail of this article.

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Old maps of North Shields 1

Places of interest to the Nessworthy family in the second half of the nineteenth century. Detail of section B from the Mouth of the Tyne map above. This highlights the terrace of houses called the Fawcus Buildings between Reed Street and Upper Toll Street North Shields.

7. Detail from "Mouth of the Tyne" Old Ordnance Survey Maps (Tyneside Sheet 3) 1895 Jarrow & South Shields : The Godfrey Edition

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Mary's 1861 England Cenesus Return

The census taken five years before Mary Nessworthy's death in 1866. She is resident in Marshall's Quay with her five sons. The curiosity here is that it contains the only other record (after his birth certificate and baptism) of a male child, Ridley Nessworthy, who was 2 years old at the time.

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1901 England Census Returns

These are two pages from the South Shields return for the 1901 census for England and Wales

TOP: Charles and Margaret Nessworthy occupy a house in Dock Stairs which is at the south end of Wapping Street. They have five children with them. Also present (as a visitor) is Matthew Nessworthy a 45 year old married seaman. He is Charles' older brother.

BOTTOM: The lower census return is something of an enigma. Elizabeth Nessworthy is living at 3 Challoner Grove with her son John and three daughters, Elizabeth, Mary and Lily. These are clearly the children of Matthew Nessworthy although Elizabeth is recorded as a widow. Elizabeth's occupation is given as domestic housekeeper. Elizabeth is also described as 'sister to the head of the family'. The division marks on the return suggest that the head of the household is James Wait (?Nait) the iron ship and boiler draughtsman living at No. 1 with his wife Helen M. Elizabeth's children are all described as nephew and nieces.

This then begs the question: What has become of the relationship between Matthew and Elizabeth? Are they separated? Also it is unclear exactly who Elizabeth is related too. We have been unable to show that Elizabeth had a younger sister (who would have been Helen M Johnson. Matthew did have a niece (Mary, the daughter of Robert Ridley Nessworthy from North Shields) who married into the Wait family. However we have been unable to show a relationahip Mary's husband Henry and this James Wait.

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A visit to Armstrong's Elswick Works 1887

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The Ouse Burn valley 1860

The Ouseburn Viaduct crosses the upper left hand corner of the map. Stepney Bank winds down the valley from the left hand edge to meet Lime Sttreet at its base.

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The Fox family's 1911 England Census Return

The 1911 England census return for James and Grace Ann Fox. Note the statistics for the children born and still alive.

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The Campbell family's 1911 England Census Return

The 1911 England census return for Richard Gillow and Mary Ellen Campbell. This highlights the appalling infant mortality rate which blighted this (and many other) Victorian and Edwardian family. Note also that they were counted in South Shields.

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The Medal Chart and Silver War Badge Chart for Walter White Nicholls

This is the Medal Chart showing the award of the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914-15 Star superimposed on the record of his award of the Silver War Badge.

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