A Town where no town ought to be – North Shields
Many people in North Shields will remember Ralph Gardner School, but how many know about Ralph Gardner ‘the man’?
This video documentary walks you through Ralph’s story and the crucial role that he played in the fight against the monopoly Newcastle held over trading rights on the river Tyne.
This Newcastle cartel effectively stifled the economic growth of North Shields for hundreds of years.
Ralph suffered imprisonment on false charges, and he and his family were threatened with violence by those in power in Newcastle. He died never knowing the impact his words and actions eventually had on overturning the stranglehold Newcastle held over trading rights on the river Tyne.
He deserves to be remembered as a true son of Father Tyne.
The North Shields Heritology Project 