Bland Square, Lighthouse stairs, Ropery Stairs, Bell st North Shields

[schrader]

 I have certificates that refer to all these places and can see from google they are close to each other.
Can anyone tell me what sort of area it was around 1820 - 1860? ie slum and overcrowded.
 He was a master mariner, or so the cert say. Or was it just handy for these workers?
I would just like some basic knowledge of this area.
Wife & family emigrated to Australia in 1858. Family name Richardson.
Thank you & Merry Christmas

[Sandrafamilytree]

You might find these articles of interest...

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/gallery/north-shields-notorious-old-low-20755674

http://northshieldsnsp.co.uk/about/north-shields-the-place/

I have many, many relatives who lived in those streets (including some Master Mariners), often in houses of multiple occupation. Life must have been very tough indeed, even for the gainfully employed!

The old housing was cleared away long ago.

[schrader]

 Thank you very much for the info.

[Sandrafamilytree]

This may also be of interest.

It is a document produced by the local council about two conservation areas in North Shields - relevant to your area of enquiry. Hope the link works OK.

https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/sites/default/files/web-page-related-files/Fish%20Quay%20and%20New%20Quay%20Character%20Appraisal_0.pdf

[Ruskie]

You can often get an idea what sort of area a family lived by looking at them and neighbours in the census, eg how many people lived in the one dwelling and the occupations of the residents and neighbours. Locate the streets on an old map - some show quite a lot of detail so you can get an idea of size of house, whether overcrowding is likely etc.

[Sandrafamilytree]

The world's greatest comedian of all time (not that I'm biased!), Stan Laurel, lived in North Shields when he was a young boy. Years later he often wrote letters to friends, referring to his life there.

He lived in Dockwray Square for a while, in the upper part of town,and he once wrote that he spent a lot of time around the fish quay area, which could be reached by steep stairs such as LightHouse Stairs.

The stairs are said to have inspired that fantastic piano removal scene in Laurel and Hardy's The Music Box. I laugh just thinking about it!

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/jul/31/filmnews.film

https://www.twsitelines.info/SMR/13361

[Sandrafamilytree]

Another link with a couple of photos of some of the 'stairs'...

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/photos-show-old-stairs-step-1394117

[AlanBoyd]

From the 1861 census for Ropery Stairs:
15 households
7 heads born in Ireland
4 heads born in North Shields
plus 1 each from Essex, London, Lancashire, Hull,

total people 72
total Irish 25 (35%)

occupations of head of household include:
labourer 5, of which 4 Irish
waterman/mariner/seaman 6, of which 1 Irish

[AlanBoyd]

Here is a side-by-side map showing Dockray Square with Lighthouse Stairs at the bottom right. The modern map reveals that Dockray Square now contains Laurel Park.

https://tinyurl.com/yznsey5u