Laygate - South Shields - Pics from the 50's & 60's 

I was born in South shields grew up at 33 fox ave simonside we emigrated to Australia in 1973 but I still fondly remember my early years and still class myself as a sanddancer

wow these photos are really fantastic thank you so much for sharing on youtube. All my family hail from South Shields but sadly no one is still there yet I have so many wonderful memories of visiting as kid in the late 60s 70s and early 80s im 59 now and have lived in various countries in Asia since 1984. The memories of the cobbled streets where my parents and grandparents grew up remain so evocative, i can recall going to the corner shop and getting sixpence of sherbert and all sorts of sweets and a bottle of pop. How times have changed. Loved the photos cheers!

It just makes you feel so grateful for what we have these days amazing photos

Really good photos, I've just moved from Redcar to Westoe Crown and everything I learn about old South Shields makes me think what an interesting place it was.

I'm only 10 and live in Laygate and this just makes me think what the streets looked like back in the days when I walk to school

Your commentary brought the photos to life it was great seeing where Wife and sister in law worked all those years ago.

I worked at Smiths Ltd Laygate from 1958 until 1960. Happy days.

Thanks so much for this reminder of where I came from ..... 1950-58 - lived on Kelvin Grove, before emigrating to Canada with me Mam and Dad, two brothers and me older sister ....... :-)

I bought this DVD and think it is wonderful. Will never forget it, and take my hat off to Bill. I would love to see more of Frederick Street though. Brilliant!!!

I feel like I am walking on air seeing your video. Memories came flooding back and to be honest, I felt like crying a couple of times. I spent a lot of time in the Garden Gate and as a child I earned my keep collecting and selling to Hanrattys. I thought he was a great guy as he would let me wander around the scrap yard all day looking for bycycle parts to make a byke to sell. Happy days. Thank you. Thank you!!!

Thank you.

That was brilliant! I was born in 1973 and don't recognise a lot. but my Gran lives on Mortmier Road, I'm coming up to see her next week - I'll make sure she sees this!

Loved all the photographs and brought back so many memories of when my parents were alive. Thank you

Memorable and important pictures beautifully presented. Many thanks.

Thanks for posting! Hard times and sad memories sorry to say but good to see the old places.

Not from Shields but very enjoyable .It is great that these photographs are preserved for all time.Great welldone .All the best.

Thank you very much indeed for sharing.

I loved this so much, I bought the DVD. Awesome.

I was hoping you would show a place I worked for a short while, and you did, John Colliers thankyou !

I was born 18 West Walpole Street 1954 ... brought back many memories ... I went to Holy Trinity School until moving upto Horsley Hill aged 11

Thank you so much. I was brought up in Lytton Street in the early 60's. We then moved to Westoe.

All the dogs running around, I remember it was a typical sight. None of these dogs ever attacked anyone but were all friendly unlike today.

Congratulations to Bill and Janet. I bought the excellent DVD from the Central Library in South Shields, as soon as it was released.

Just caught this I lived in that area from the age of 1 to 12. I lived in South Palmerston Street, went to Barnes Road Infants School then the junior school then to Dean Road School and after passing my 13Plus attended the Grammar School. So many memories here.

yes many memories for many people it is well put together indeed.I met big bill clavery years ago at oak ave..well done

I have this DVD and I love it! ☺

At photo time 14.52 the house where simpson was born i think . I was born in jarrow but lived in shields till I was ten grew up around corbridge st and later lived laygate lane then dacre st before my family emigrated to oz . Great photo records of how it was once , proud of my geordie roots and its people.

As a child I loved at number 39 West Walpole Street. I was living there until I jooined the Army in 1954. I know there were a lot of people living in the street, but wouldn't it be a great coincidence if we knew each other?

It's interesting that most of the shops shown were run as small family businesses, before the big "chain stores" took over. These days, you see the same shop names wherever you go.

I don't know about the windmill, but there is a place called Windmill Hill off Commercial Road, close to where Readheads shipyard used to be. That might be the site of the windmill you're thinking of.

I know my great great grandad had a shop at laygate called laws

I have a 91 yr old friend who owned a cafe/grocery shop on Laygate ln, opposite the school. It was called Stephenson's.....I wonder if you have any pictures?

Thanks so much, Janet & Bill. Those pictures are marvellous. My family lived in West Walpole Street until about 1954.How do I order a copy of the DVD? And are you planning to produce more DVDs? (PS - As a former darkroom printer myself, if you still have films undeveloped I suggest you get them done quickly. Film emulsion can deteriorate over the years.)

HI there I am wondering if you can help me - I am trying to find out where railyway street was in south shields for my grandfather but I cant find anything at all

Hello,Edd Irwin here. I was born in 1937 at Marshall Wallis Road. In growing up i seem to racall visiting my Uncle Jim Sawkill living in a windmill in Lagate. Can anyone throw any light on this?

Does anyone have information about the Baptist church in Laygate. Probably the Laygate tabernacle. Please put it on Line

my father was born at 37 laygate lane 1928 i think my grandmother had the shop underneath it could have been a bike shop my great grandmother elizabeth henderson died in 1933 i also think it was on a corner with a clock can anyone let me no if they have anyi nformation thanks.

great pictures of laygate. thanks for putting them up. all the best

Laygate man pop pit only good thing is the greggs cheap shop