Where to find the South Shields Key to map symbols Getting to the Health Walks urban health walks Access Barrier The Urban History Walks all start at Metro Stations where Bus stop frequent bus services connect, making access to the walks easy. Car parking ‘Roman’ along Contact North East Travel Line on 0870 608 2608 for more the River South Shields Cross slope Ferry information or obtain a bus timetable from Nexus Travel Shops. The Pitman’s Trow Point Hazard Chichester Path Pedestrian/cycle Tyne Tunnel Tunnel Information Getting around the Health Walks Jarrow Marsden Metro station Tyne Dock Hebburn Bede Lizard Point Public house The walks have been designed with everyone in mind, including people with pushchairs and wheelchair users. Each route has Brockley Public telephone Whins Seat been fully surveyed to identify surface types, slopes and location Fellgate Boldon Colliery Cleadon Whitburn of steps - all of which are indicated on the maps to help you Shops West decide if you can negotiate a particular walk before ever leaving Boldon East 23% Slope up/down Boldon home. Finding your way round is easy, as the Urban Walks use 23 Steps up/down street names as a guide. At certain points, you will find markers Stile fitted to lampposts and signposts to keep you on track. Toilets Walk your way to better health Walking Works Wonders in South Tyneside Half an hour of brisk walking on most days can: These Urban History Walks - in South Shields and in Jarrow and Improve - weight control, stamina, confidence, community spirit, life Hebburn - build on the success of the Monkton, Temple Park expectancy, posture, energy and self-esteem. and Coastal Health Walks. As even more health walks are Reduce - heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, bowel created around the Borough, each will be waymarked to a very cancer, arthritis, anxiety and osteoporosis. high standard and have a self-guided booklet. The walks are being developed in partnership with the community - so why not Furthermore, almost everyone can do it, you don't need any special take the first step towards a healthier lifestyle and walk your way equipment, it's easy and it's free! So why not take the first steps to better health? along the urban history walks, but remember not to overdo it. Start slowly and build up gradually. Aim to walk for half an hour on The project is also developing a network of volunteer walk most days, at a pace that makes you breathe a little faster, feel a little leaders, to lead health walks throughout the year along the warmer and have a slightly faster heart beat. Walking doesn’t have to newly-established routes. If you are interested in becoming a be ‘hard’ - you should be able to carry out a conversation quite volunteer walk leader, contact Ruth Nolan on (0191) 456 6903. easily as you go, so why not go with a friend or your family? The potential benefits of walking are far greater that any risks but if The project is a partnership between South Tyneside Council, South of Tyne and Wearside you haven’t been active for some time, or are concerned about your Mental Health Trust, South Tyneside Primary Care Trust, Age Concern, Health Action Zone health, check with your doctor before you begin. and Groundwork South Tyneside. Walk 1 - South Shields Introduction ‘Roman’ along the River The important position of South Shields at the mouth of the Tyne has been the major influence in its development. The Distance: 4km (2.5 miles) Route: Romans created a major Tarmac port to supply Hadrian’s Open space Wall and the river has long Urban area since been the focus of IVE DR many industries – the main R CE E PLA IV ’S Lawe R N one being shipbuilding. EE Top GR T The works have all gone REE Arbeia ST G Roman Fort 5% N now, but some remnants of E PI P 4 N 4 61 T A 3 EE the past can still be seen. Y W 1 R L B T A S W T RT O E F R North R O A ROUTE E 5% D Marine Park 3% V B a I A lt R e The walk starts and R I r N n a 6% G t i Tyne finishes at South Shields v S e R T Lifeboat R r I o V Metro Station. Proceed Riverside E u E E t R T e . RD along King Street, passing SOUTH SHIELDS IN 1862 D SEA © Ordnance Survey Licence LA076341. 2003. Route 1 R I D under the Metro Bridge V A RO E N South Shields EA Old Town Hall Market Place. L Metro Station OC heading towards the and O N G Start/finish R In 1786 the Dean and Chapter of Durham bought the land and O Old Town W 5% built the Market Place and Town Hall, moving the market away Hall and ET E A Market Place TR G S Art Gallery N from the crowded riverside streets. The arches under the Town IN D R K and Museum D E Ferry R Hall provided shelter for the market folk, while the room above R S Landing E O F V I O N was used for vestry, and later council, meetings. It ceased to R W S T L R function as a Town Hall in 1910 but the market still thrives. E R E E St. S T D Many of the buildings in the Market Place, including St. Hilda’s T A O Hilda’s R R E S Church, were damaged in the bombing raid of 2 October 1941. Church E N E L T O B T O S 6% H U T Route 2 G R Mill BEACH RD. U N A E As the pedestrian area comes to an end, take a left turn and cross O S T R T B . Dam I O AD St. Hilda’s Church N Church Way at the crossing area next to . Customs RO R E House D TE IN . GA SK The first St. Hilda’s Church was founded in 647 AD by St. Aiden SS R O E CR and placed in the charge of the Northumbrian Princess Hilda. Abbess Hilda’s early church was probably destroyed during the Danish invasions, although a church has remained on the site ever since. The church we see today is the result of much reno- The riverside was once a series of bustling quays and shipbuilding vation and rebuilding work, mostly done in the 19th Century. yards. In the 1820s, there were 12 shipbuilding yards and 13 dry Enter the park, keeping St. Hilda’s Church to your left, towards docks which could accommodate 21 large vessels at the same the memorial. Keeping to the right hand path, walk through the time. In addition, there were many subsidiary industries such as park and cross the road in the vicinity of the roundabout on rope and sail making, and forges making anchors and chains. Station Road / Ferry Street. Continue along Brewery Lane Little evidence of this remains today other than the former towards the Mill Dam area and the Customs House. graving docks, which have been incorporated into the riverside development to the east of the passenger ferry landing. In early times an old branch of the river Tyne ran along the Mill Dam, Coronation street, Continue along the riverside path, proceeding straight past Ocean road, then out to sea. Gradually this Comical Corner and the South Shields Sea Cadet building. When silted up and much of the remainder was the path ends continue along Wapping Street until you reach the filled in after the Napoloenic Wars. The last large Seamanship and Survival Centre where you can re-join it, section went in 1930. One of the industries following alongside the rail tracks in the road. Where the rail of this area was Isaac Cookson’s glassworks. tracks end, cross River Drive where the sign opposite says South Shields was once one of the largest ‘leading to Greens Place’. MILL DAM (ESTABLISHED 1862) AND THE CUSTOMS HOUSE glassmaking centres in the country, with a Those who are able can use the steps to climb up to Greens © South Shields Libraries and Museums total of eight large glassworks in the town. Place. Alternatively you can take an easier route up by turning Continue towards the river along Mill Dam, passing in front of right, heading up River Drive with the wall on your left, turning the Customs House Theatre, Cinema and Art Gallery, until reaching the left into Greens Place and going straight on to meet the area at Merchant Navy Memorial Monument. the top of the steps. Opened in 1864 the Customs House was, as its name suggests, From here, continue along Green Place, built for the transaction of customs duties to be paid on goods where Arbeia Roman Fort will come into view. passing through South Shields. Turn right into Baring Street, continuing with Turn right and follow the river along the paved area towards the the fort to your left until you reach the passenger ferry landing to North Shields. junction with Fort Street. A ferry crossing has existed here since at least the 14th century. Arbeia Roman Fort was occupied for almost At one time passengers would have endured an uncomfortably 300 years,controlling the most northerly port crowded journey, along with livestock, to cross the river. of the Roman Empire in Britain. Built as part Continue east along the riverside, passing the ferry terminal, of the Roman Wall defences to guard the following the signs for Arbeia Roman Fort and turning right up mouth of the Tyne during the reign of Hadrian, it also acted as a military supply the ‘Coble Landing’ onto River Drive.