The Changing Face of South Shields Museum

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Following a major refurbishment, South Shields Museum & Art Gallery has opened the doors of its newest gallery, Changing Faces which, alongside a new cafe and seating area, has revitalised the ground floor of the museum.

Charting the history of South Tyneside from the Bronze Age to the end of the nineteenth century, it includes some of the Museum’s most popular items, including William Jobling’s gibbet and the ship model, St Hilda. As well as old favourites there are new objects and interactive exhibits that allow visitors to learn about the history of the region in a fun, hands-on way.

Alongside displays dedicated to South Shields’ famous trades of shipbuilding and coalmining are exhibits exploring the production of salt and pressed glass, for which South Shields was celebrated in the 17th and 19th centuries. The gallery is a fantastic introduction to the rich history of the region, and children will be captivated by tales of smuggling at Marsden Rock and the brave deeds of the Tyne Pilots who manned the South Shields lifeboat. The history of the lifeboat is charted from its invention in 1789 to the Providence disaster in 1849 and their use in the 21st century.

After exploring 4,000 years of history, visitors can sit back and relax in the new cafe and seating area and enjoy a range of hot and cold drinks, cakes and sandwiches in this amazing new setting.

For more information and a full listing of exhibitions, activities and events visit: www.twmuseums.org.uk/southshields

Tyne & Wear Museums would like to acknowledge the support of the following in the development of Changing Faces: Department for Culture, Media and Sport, DCMS/Wolfson Foundation Museums & Galleries Improvement Fund, South Tyneside Council and Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust.