South Shields, Market Place, air raid shelters

HER Number:
16444

District:
S Tyneside

Site Name:
South Shields, Market Place, air raid shelters

Place:
South Shields

Map Sheet:
NZ36NE

Class:
Defence

Site Type: Broad:
Civil Defence Site

Site Type: Specific:
Air Raid Shelter

General Period:
Modern

Specific Period:
C20

Form of Evidence:
Structure

Description:
Two underground air raid shelters were built in the Market Place during the Second World War. Their precise location is not known, but they are thought to lie east of the town hall. South Shields suffered numerous Luftwaffe bombing raids during the war. The Market Place was directly hit on 2nd October 1941. Many buildings were entirely destroyed. A direct hit on Dunn's Paint Store propelled tins of paint and oil across to other properties, causing more damage. The air raid shelters were hit. 68 people were killed, 117 seriously injured, 91 slightly injured and 2000 made homeless. 240 shops, houses and offices were destroyed or had to be demolished later. The Old Town Hall and the Church of St. Hilda suffered minor damage, but the rest of the Market Place was destroyed or seriously damaged.

Easting:
3604

Northing:
6713

Grid Reference:
NZ36046713

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
Brian Pears, NE Diary, http://ne-diary.bpears.org.uk/Inc/Iseq_24.htlm; Prospect Archaeology, 2014, Market Place, New Central Library & Digital Media Centre, South Shields - Archaeological Assessment