Hmm. Many thanks for your reply, unfortunately, it makes it harder to identify than ever. I have the 1895 Ordnance Survey map of South Shields and can find Cambridge Street, but there is no Lawton Street mentioned. I did quote the year, c 1901 in the heading of my post. You would think that in 5 years there would be little change. I wonder if your article quoted in the Chronicle refers to North Shields? Meanwhile, I wonder if BACK Cambridge Street could be anything other than the back street of Cambridge Street?
FYI it runs parallel with Adelaide Street, Green Street, Brunswick Street, Bowman Street and Regent Street, all of which I remember as a child. I had family members living extensively in this area. Indeed as recently as the 1960s I remember baby sitting for my brother in his newly refurbished downstairs house, with Aunt Florrie occupying the upper house!