A new display has opened at the Old Low Light Heritage Centre about three generations of the Linskill family, who played important roles in shaping North Shields.

This can be viewed in the centre’s heritage gallery, on North Shields Fish Quay from 10am to 3pm Tuesday to Saturday. Admission to the gallery is £4pp (Old Low Light members and children under 16 free).

The Linskill display, researched by Old Low Light volunteer and local historian Mike Coates, sets out how the Linskills, who were Quakers from Whitby, first came to North Shields in 1754 when the town was booming. Each generation of the family became involved in the economic and social life of the town and their legacy is still evident today.

 

Alongside the display, is a range of memorabilia from the former Linskill school, courtesy of local families and staff at the Linskill Centre.

The display is an addition to the Folk who Shaped Shields exhibition, again researched and curated by Old Low Light volunteers, which has been running in the gallery since last year. It tells the stories of four of the great people – John Dobson, John Foster Spence, Richard Irvin and Sir James Knott – who played a major role in the development of the town.

Mike said: “The Linskills are yet another of the prominent families of Shields who devoted their time and energies to shaping the town. Their story is fascinating as not only did they work hard to improve its prosperity, but they also strove to make it a better place in which to live.”

Mike first became involved with the Old Low Light Heritage Centre ten years ago, before it opened, when he joined a research group to begin planning exhibitions. One interest, in particular, has been researching well known families from the town and he has recently published a book called ‘North Shields Inspirational Folk’.