400 b.c. - there is evidence that around this time the area was settled by a tribe of Celtic "Brigantes", a non-aryan dark skinned and tattooed race. They named their settlement "Caer Urfa" (the town on the rock), for many years the letters CU were used as the prefix on cars registered in South Shields. The area that they settled in was naturally defensive and became known as the Lawe.

AD 80 - Roman troops led by Agricola overcome Northern Britain, and under the orders of the Emporor Hadrian built a wall from Bowness-in-Solway to Wallsend to protect the Empire from the Northern Picts. They built a large fort on the Lawe and called it Arbeia, thus giving this town it's second name, and used it as a supply depot for Hadrian's Wall. They also started quarrying at Marsden for stones used to build their fort and dwellings.

AD 364 - first records of the Roman occupiers coming under attack from Picts and Saxons.

AD 400 - Arbeia is abandoned by the Romans.

647 - King Oswald's son King Oswin (who was born in one of his father's Royal residences Caer Urfa) grants 15 acres of land near to the settlement to Princess (later Saint) Hild, to establish a religious house nearby. It was one of the earliest known Christian churches in the region and was established 40 years before the monastery of St. Paul's at Jarrow. A later church on the site became known as St. Hilda's.

672 - The Venerable Bede is born.

680 - Hild dies at the age of 66. Bede starts hi education at Benedict Biscop.s monastery at Wearmouth before moving to Jarrow.

731 - Bede completes the writing of Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis (The History of the English Church and People).

735 - Death of Bede aged 63.

789  - The first Danish (Viking) attacks begin, records show their longboats being destroyed on the Herd Sands (now called Sandhaven Beach)

794 - A second Viking attack is launched, this time at the monastery at Jarrow, after they sacked the abbey on Lindisfarne. However the Vikings were defeated by the local people.

865 - Hild's nunnery is sacked by the Danes.

875 - The Viking chieftain Halfdene launches another raid, this time landing his fleet at Jarrow Slake, they ransacked the Roman fort and the settlement of Arbeia on the Lawe and slaughtered the inhabitants. Halfdene's army went on to conquer the whole of the Kingdom of Deira (Northumbria).

876 - King Alfred sails a fleet north and defeats the Danes.

883 - The Danes return but are defeated again. this time by Guthred son of Hardacnut.

1100 - The Normans rebuild St. Hilda's Church.

1183 - Following the Norman conquest of 1066, Bishop Pudsey of Durham produced his version of the Doomsday book, known as the Boldon Buke, because Boldon was the first named place in it!

1235 - The Melsamby Book, a rent record of the Bishopric of Durham, lists 24 tenants of smallholdings in South Sheles, the first known reference to the name we use now.

1245 - The town is given it's name South Shields by the Prior and Convent of Durham.

1325 - First mention of the coal trade from South Shields.

1489 - Records show a flourishing salt industry in South Shields with 200 salt pans burning and evaporating salt from sea water in Holborn. Lionel Bell was the first salt pan operator.  Chares I sends 300 Royalist troops to the town for it's defence during the Civil War.

1644 - South Shields fort is captured by the Scots for "Roundheads" (Parliamentarians.) However, the fort was retaken by the "Royalists" six months later.

1650 - Isaac Cookson builds a glassworks in East Holborn, producing plate and window glass. (By 1827 there were eight glassworks)

1718 - The first Presbyterian church is built in Mile End Road.

1720 - Shipyard established by Robert Wallis. Isaac Cookson starts the first chemical works in the town.

1751 - William Wouldhave is born.

1768 - The old Town Hall, Market Place, and surrounding streets are built by the Dean and Chapter of Durham.

1776 - A South Shields postman was executed on the Town Moor, Newcastle for stealing a letter containing 2 x £50 notes from the Post Office.

1936 - The new South Shields High School for Boys is opened in Lisle Road with 250 boys from the old Boys' High School (in Mowbray Road) and 400 boys from Westoe Higher Grade School (leaving the girls behind to form the new Girls' High School)

1937 - The film director Ridley Scott is born in South Shields.

1938 - Marian Chapman is born in South Shields, weighing only 10 ounces, the smallest baby in the world!

1940 - Lieut. Richard W. Annand serving with the 2nd. Battn. Durham Light Infantry is awarded the Victoria Cross for rescuing his batman in a wheelbarrow while carrying out a manoeuvre without ammunition and coming under heavy fire. South Shields made him a Freeman of the Borough. The first bomb to hit South Shields during the war, 21st. June.

1941 - The Market Place is devastated by a German air raid, bodies are left hanging in the trees of St. Hilda's churchyard following the explosions. The raid on 2nd. October lasted over an hour.

1945 - William Reid Blyton is elected as Labour Member of Parliament for Houghton-le-Spring, he held the seat until 1964.

1945 - A former public shelter on Pier Parade is opened as a theatre, The Pier Pavillion.

1950 - Bill Blyton becomes a Freeman of the Borough

1960 - Dame Flora McKenzie Robson is elevated to the British Peerage.

1964 - William Blyton becomes the first Life Peer to take the name of South Shields in his title. Chuter Ede also becomes a Life Peer. Arthur Blenkinsop is elected as Labour M.P. for South Shields.

1968 - The Progressive Association takes control of the Borough Council, their Leader was Alderman Harry Marshall.

1969 - Harton Colliery closes, 92 miners have died there during it's history.

1974 - Local Government reorganisation creates the new Borough of South Tyneside (South Shields, Jarrow, Hebburn, Boldon, Cleadon, and Whitburn.) Labour regains control of the Borough. South Shields Grammar-Technical School for Boys becomes Harton Comprehensive School.

1977 - Muhammad Ali, the Heavyweight Boxing Champion of the World, visits South Shields. Tyne Dock Arches demolished.

1979 - Arthur Blenkinsop retires as M.P. having served in three Government posts, he is succeeded by David Clark.

1981 - The first Great North Run (a half marathon from Newcastle to South Shields) takes place.

1982 - Redheads, Middle Dock, and Brigham and Cowans Dock are all closed by British Shipbuilders.

1993 - Catherine Cookson is made a Dame Commander of the British Empire by the Queen. Westoe Colliery closes.

1995 - Marsden Rock's famous walkthrough archway collapsed into the sea.

1997 - David Clark is appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in Tony Blair's first Government.

1998 - Dame Catherine Cookson and her husband Tom die within weeks of each other, she would always be specially remembered by those in "Cookson Country".

2001 - Frank Lakes in Fowler Street becomes a victim of the DIY "sheds" and closes it's doors for the last time. David Clark becomes a Lord and his seat in Parliament passes to David Miliband, who was previously head of The Prime Minister's Policy Unit.

2004 - Capt. Richard W. Annand the DLI's oldest surviving holder of the Victoria Cross, dies in Durham at the age of 90.

2005 - Westoe RFC play in the final of the Powergen Intermediate Cup at Twickenham against Morley.

1782 - "Jack the blaster", a quarrying miner makes a home for his family in caves at Marsden Bay, he later starts supplying drinks to visitors and pirates. Dolly Peel, the notorious smuggler is born. (She was no friend of the press gangs and was known to hide men under her skirts to prevent them being taken for the sea trade.)

1790 - William Wouldhave, the Clerk of St. Hilda's Church designs "The Original" the world's first self righting lifeboat, however he loses out in a competition to Henry Greathead who went on to get the contract to build lifeboats to his design. "The Tyne" at the Wouldhave Memorial is one of only two remaining Greathead designed (not built) lifeboats.

1794 - Thomas Salmon is born, he went on to become Town Clerk.

1799 - James Mather is born, he later invented the ship's lifeboat.

1806 - Mail coaches begin running between South Shields and York.

1810 - Simon Temple opens the town's first coalmine in Templetown (just about where the south western ends of John Williamson Street and South Frederick Street are now.)

1812 - Sir William Fox is born in Westoe Village, he went on to become New Zealand Prime Minister four times.

1812 - "Peter the hermit" moves into the home vacated by "Jack the blaster" at Marsden Bay, he adds 15 rooms and develops it into a tavern.

1821 - Wouldhave dies penniless aged 70 at his home Nelson Bank, near the Mill Dam, he was buried in St. Hilda's churchyard.

1822 - Charles Mark Palmer is born in King Street, he went on to own Palmer's shipyard in Jarrow, and also became Jarrow's M.P. St. Hilda's Colliery opens.

1826 - James Mather invents the first ship's lifeboat.

1829 - The North Shields and South Shields Ferry Company is formed. William Downey is born in King Street, he became one of the best photographers of the age and was known as the "Queens Photographer". He probably snapped Queen Victoria more often than anyone else at the time. He ran his own business in King Street.

1832 - South Shields elects it's first Member of Parliament, Dr. Robert Ingham Q.C. one of the 470 residents of Westoe Village. Standing as a Liberal, he wins with a majority of 97 (they were only 540 registered voters.) He served for 25 years as our M.P. Also this year William Jobling the murderer of South Shields magistrate Nicholas Fairles, became the last man to be hanged and gibbeted in England. The gibbet carrying his tarred body was suspended at Jarrow Slake.

1836 - South Shields Poor Law Union formed.

1837 - Dr. Thomas Winterbottom founds the Marine School in Ocean Road, it grew to become the world class Marine and Technical College with a world wide seafaring reputation. The Poor Law Union erects a workhouse on German Street (now Ocean Road).

1839 - 51 lives are lost an explosion at St. Hida's Colliery, the youngest was only 9 years old. A police force is raised in South Shields by Durham Constabulary.

1841 - South Shields elects another Liberal M.P., John Twizel Wawn.

1842 - Harton Coal Company purchases St. Hilda Colliery.

1844 - Harton Colliery opened, off Harton Lane.(92 lives were lost before it closed in 1969.

1847 - The first iron ship "Conside" is built at the yard of Thomas Marshall, (now you know who Marshall Wallis Road is named after).

1849 - The Shields Gazette and Shipping Post is first published. It was published at first as a weekly under the title "The North and South Shields Gazette and Northumberland and Durham Advertiser", a four page paper costing 4½d.

1850 - South Shields is given it's Royal Charter of Incorporation, Thomas Salmon is appointed as our first Town Clerk and he held the post until he died in 1871. The first Working Mens Institute in England is formed in South Shields. South Shields Cricket Club founded.

1851 -"Peter the hermit" dies and his house undergoes further improvements to become Marsden Grotto.

1852 - Robert Ingham is returned to Parliament again, serving as our M.P. until 1868.

1854 - The foundation stones for the two piers are laid, as well as a steam railway and steam crane to carry boulders along the length of the South pier. The Astronomer Royal, Sir G.B. Airey carries out pendulum experiments in Harton Colliery to measure the earth's weight.

1857 - Death of Dolly Peel aged 75.

1859 - Tyne Dock opens with sufficient berths for 500 vessels. Dr. Thomas Winterbottom dies at the age of 93 and is buried in Westoe cemetary.

1860 - 3rd Durham Artillery Volunteer Corps
raised at South Shields.

1864 - Charles Mark Palmer is elected Member of Parliament for Jarrow, he holds the seat continuously until his death in 1907 aged 85.

1866 - South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade is formed, using the watch house on the South pier as their base. They were the first brigade to make a rescue using the breeches buoy. Also this year an outbreak of cholera badly affects the town.

1868 - John Williamson (the Mayor) starts a fund to commemorate the 25 years served in Parliament by Robert Ingham, the intention is to raise enough money to build a hospital near Westoe (with an estimated cost of £5000.)

1870 - A smallpox endemic hits the town. The London steamship "Eagle" grounds on the Herd Sands. The 1st. Viscount (Walter) Runciman is born on 19th. November.

1873 - The Ingham Infirmary opens, having been paid for from public subscriptions.

1874 - J. Barbour and Sons open a clothing store at 5, The Market  Place, to supply oilskins and other outer garments to fishermen and seafarers.

1875 - Robert Ingham dies, a bachelor, at his home in Westoe, aged 83. He is buried in Westoe cemetary. In this year John Redhead launched his first ship "The Roll Call" from a yard in Pilot Street, South Shields.

1878 - The new workhouse built on the edge of Harton Moor takes in the first of up to 700 paupers.

1879 - South Shields Railway Station in Mile End Road was built by the London North East Railway Company. 

1880 - Redhead begins to purchase the West Docks in Commercial Road. 

1882 - The Groyne is built, to warn vessels of rocks and sandbanks in the mouth of the Tyne.

1885 - South Shields Boys High School opens with 37 boys in Mowbray Road.

1886 - St. Jude's church in Laygate was completed and consecrated.

1888 - Westoe Lane (originally named South Shields) railway station opened.

1892 - John Kirkpatrick was born on 6 July in a newly-built three-roomed terrace tenement at 10 South Eldon Street, in the Tyne Dock area of South Shields.

1893 - South Shields Golf Club formed.

1895 - The North and South piers are completed. Redhead completes the building of his own shipyard, and as his sons reach the age of 21 they join the board of their father's company. John Redhead and Sons is firmly established, they continue to build or repair ships until 1982.

1896 - Henry Howey Robson is born in Hampden Street.

1899 - William Reid Blyton is born in Bowman Street, Laygate.

1901 - The town acquires 360 acres of land in West Harton for expansion.

1906 - Catherine Cookson is born at 5, Leam Lane, Tyne Dock. She went on to write almost 100 books with 123 million sales worldwide. Frank Lakes, that most traditional of ironmongers, opens in Fowler Street.

1902 - Flora Robson is born at 11, Village Terrace, Westoe Village, which is now part of Sunderland Road opposite Wyvestow Lodge. She went on to become one of Britain's pre-eminent stage and film actresses, her most famous performance being Queen Elizabeth I in "Fire over England".

1910 - Freddie Chapman, an old boy of the Boys High School scores the first ever try in the first international rugby match at Twickenham. England beat Wales 11 - 6

1913 - South Shields Photographic Society is formed.

1914 - Private Henry Howey Robson is serving with 2nd. Battn. Scots Guards in Kennel, Belgium when he left his trench and under heavy enemy fire rescued a wounded NCO, he went back out to rescue another soldier. Private Robson was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery and became the first soldier to become a Freeman of the Borough. South Shields was bombed by Zeppelins in this year. Richard W. Annand was born in Westoe Village.

1915 - The celebrated clarinetist Jack Brymer is born in Broughton Road.

1915 - John Simpson Kirkpatrick, serving in the Australian Army at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, is killed by a Turkish sniper on his 25th. day of active service. In that time he and his donkey had saved the lives of up to 300 men.

1917 - South Shields Amateur Operatic Society is formed.

1919 - Harton Colliery band wins the British Open Musical Competition, the first colliery band to do so. South Shields AFC (The Mariners) join the Second Division of the Football League, playing at Horsley Hill Stadium the highest league position they attained was 6th. six places higher than Manchester United. The author and poet James Kirkup was born in Cockburn Street.

1926 - Television writer James Mitchell (creator of Callen) was born in South Shields. St. Hilda's Colliery Band win the 1000 Guineas Trophy for the fifth time. During the General Strike police launched a baton charge at striking miners in the town after reading the Riot Act to them.

1927 - South Shields AFC are relegated to the Third Division North.

1929 - James Chuter Ede becomes the first labour M.P. for South Shields.

1930 - Yemenis riot in the Mill Dam, police chief reads the riot act before ordering a baton charge.

1931 - The Liberals retake South Shields at the General Election.

1935 - Chuter Ede regains the seat for Labour, he retains it until his retirement in 1964, during this time he served as Home Secretary from 1945-1950 and was also made a Privy Councillor, Companion of Honour, and Freeman of the Borough of South Shields.