South Shields, Wouldhave Memorial

South Shields, Wouldhave Memorial

Image Details

Title South Shields, Wouldhave Memorial
Date c1950s
Location South Shields
Type Real Photographic
Publisher E D Walker & Wilson Ltd., Darlington
Series Mason's Alpha Series
Size 138mm x 87mm
Reference Number P131
Further Information The Wouldhave Memorial was erected in 1889 in memory of William Wouldhave who designed the first lifeboat. The Tyne Lifeboat was built in 1833 and presented to South Shields Corporation in 1894 by the trustees of the Tyne Lifeboat Institution. It was destroyed during an air raid on South Shields on 2nd October 1941. A replica now stands in its place. The Belisha Beacons, which can be seen on the left of the image, were first used on British roads to indicate crossing points from 1934 onwards but zebra crossings weren’t used until 1951. More information about William Wouldhave and Henry Greathead, the history of the lifeboat and the design and construction of the Wouldhave Memorial can be found in the “History of the Lifeboat” booklet in the Pamphlets collection of this website.