North Shields – the 800-year-old town finally on the up after years of decline

North Shields – the 800-year-old town finally on the up after years of decline

North Shields is a town on the up, its regeneration is well underway, and the future is bright for the town.

The fishing port town suffered more than most when the region’s key industries – shipbuilding and mining – came crashing down in the late 20th century. Since then, the town had struggled to find its purpose – but now North Shields is on the rise again with the area becoming a hub for culture and opportunity.

An old fishing town, devoid of hope after decades of post-industrial decline, North Shields has spent a generation being forgotten about. Fortunately, the people of this small, ‘forgotten’ about town wouldn’t let these preconceptions remain. It was clear that despite North Shields’ rich heritage and proud industrial past, a new identity was being pathed, all whilst remembering what made the town so great in the first place. Its people.

We want to focus on North Shields in the present day, showing that the area has overcome its immense hardship and has embarked on a special and exciting journey to become a place of hope and celebration. This is proven by the North Shields 800 and current Town of Culture 2028 bid, the former seeing thousands line the streets throughout 2025 in celebration of the town’s 800 years of existence.

North Shields Fish Quay (Credit Will Thornhill)

The North Shields 800’s size cannot be understated. Over 50 organisations came together to deliver a special calendar of events and celebrations to mark 800 years since the small village – originally known as Shiels – settled on the north bank of the Tyne intended as a fishing port to serve the neighbouring Tynemouth.

North Tyneside’s Head of Regeneration and Culture, Vicky Cuthbertson, was able to shed some light on the scale of the celebrations, and those who helped make it happen: “We worked with a wide range of groups, including heritage organisations like the Fishermen’s Mission, Fishermen’s Heritage Project, community groups such as the Linskill Centre, and heritage sites like Old Low Light. We also partnered with arts organisations like Helix Arts – so it was a very diverse mix of active groups in North Shields.

“North Shields is fortunate to have a very active community. Many events relied on volunteers. For example, the ‘Remembering the Past’ project trained volunteers to record people’s memories of North Shields. They visited care homes, spoke with residents about their experiences, and later created an exhibition in the town centre. That’s a great example of how volunteers contributed to North Shields 800.”

Vicky Cuthbertson (Credit Will Thornhill)

Vicky Cuthbertson – Head of Regeneration and Culture North Tyneside (credit – Will Thornhill)

On the back of the successes of The North Shields 800, the town has bid for the Town of Culture Award 2028. Many other towns have also submitted their bid, but the area is hopeful that the bid will progress beyond the bidding deadline of March 31. It is a tough task to win this award due to the number of applicants, but North Shields influencer Simmie Harper, also known as ‘I Love North Shields’ believes the town has a chance and issued her thoughts on the award and what the town still needs: “North Shields doesn’t need to reinvent itself. It just needs to show what it already is.

“This is a working port town with a strong identity, shaped by generations of people. Culture here isn’t separate from everyday life – it’s part of it. It’s your neighbour, your teacher, your local business, people creating, organising and showing up for North Shields. What we need now is investment in people, in spaces, and in long-term infrastructure – so what’s already happening can grow and be sustained.”

The winner of the Town of Culture award is given £3 million, whilst second and third place are awarded £250,000 each, Ms. Cuthbertson explained: “Receiving the title would bring additional funding and national attention.

“It would support creative businesses, raise aspirations among young people, and attract more visitors – benefiting the wider economy. That recognition, even for a year, would make a significant difference.”

North Shields Transport Hub (Credit Will Thornhill)

One of North Shields’ most recent investments came in the form of a new transport hub as part of the wider regeneration of the town centre in an aim to make the immediate footprint of the town a more family-friendly environment. The building of the transport hub and town square cost £13 million with the interior being decorated with artwork from young people from the area, further highlighting how proud the town is of its own people. North Shields has become known across the world due to being the hometown of singer/songwriter, Sam Fender. Fender recently achieved his first UK Number One after collaborating with West London’s Olivia Dean on ‘Rein Me In’. American sensation, Noah Kahan, was given a tour of North Shields by Fender before they collaborated on Kahan’s ‘Homesick’. Despite global success, Fender is a testament to the character of those from North Shields, he refuses to forget where he came from, recently returning to perform on stage with his father’s band in a charity gig for Team Janine.