South Marine Park, South Shields

South Marine Park, South Shields

Image Details

Title South Marine Park, South Shields
Date Postmarked 1905
Location South Shields
Type Topographical
Publisher Unknown
Series Reliable Series
Size 137mm x 87mm
Reference Number P166
Further Information The land for South Marine Park, which overlooks both the sea and the river, was granted to South Shields by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The park was created from ballast hills and wasteland as a public pleasure park and recreation ground for the people of South Shields and visitors to the town. The park was designed by the Borough Engineer, Mr Matthew Hall, and was laid out with terraces, pathways, flower beds and a purpose-built lake. It cost £10,000 to create and was opened on 25th June 1890 by Sir John Mowbray. The Wouldhave Memorial, erected in 1889 in recognition of William Wouldhave who invented the lifeboat can be seen in the centre of the image. Tynemouth can be seen in the distance. The card bears the South Shields coat-of-arms with its motto "Always Ready". The coat-of-arms also recognises the invention of the lifeboat.