Market Place, Church of St Hilda

This church was listed Grade II in 1950 with the following description:
'Tower C18. Body of church rebuilt 1810-11. Ashlar, hipped slate roof. Two tiers of windows, the lower ones tall, the upper ones small "clearstory", all with semi-circular hoods. Apse with 3 lights. Tuscan doorcase to former entrance in centre of north wall. West tower has rusticated quoins, contains semi-circular headed west door. Above this a circular window, then 2 stages with louvred belfry openings, finally a clock. pyramidal slate roof behind parapet. To either side of tower, vestry with "Venetian" window and external stairs to gallery. Interior a single space with galleries supported on cast iron columns. Font 1675 by Robert Trollop, Gilt chandelier 1802. Model of lifeboat 1802 suspended from ceiling. Organ case J F Bentley 1865-6. The church, the parish church of South Shields is said to be on the site of a chapel founded by St Aidan circa AD 647 and placed in charge of St Hilda.'
Ryder suggests that part of the west wall may survive from the medieval church. LISTED GRADE 2