Low Lights Fishery

HER Number:
12310

District:
N Tyneside

Site Name:
Low Lights Fishery

Place:
North Shields

Map Sheet:
NZ36NE

Class:
Agriculture and Subsistence

Site Type: Broad:
Fishing Site

Site Type: Specific:
Fish Weir

General Period:
POST MEDIEVAL

Specific Period:
Stuart 1603 to 1714

Form of Evidence:
Documentary Evidence

Description:
Named after the lighthouse built in 1536-40. On the north side of the Narrows at North Shields. Referred to as Robert Ramsey's fishery in 1637. The fishery extended from the Black Middens (NZ 371 687) three miles to Howdon Head (NZ 333 660). It existed at least as early as 1443 when the Prior of Tynemouth possessed three long weirs or salmon yares across the river towards Jarrow which impeded ships sailing upstream to Newcastle. In the 18th century it used sweep nets and stake nets which were hauled ashore at the Black Middens, Mussel Scarp (NZ 365 685), Coble Dean, White Hill Point (NZ 349 661) and Howdon (NZ 333 661). Its rent (with Cullercoats) was £2 in 1851. In 1775 265 salmon were caught in one draught {Brand, History and Antiquities of Newcastle, Vol 2, p 33}.

Easting:
436200

Northing:
568400

Grid Reference:
NZ436200568400

Lats/Lons:

Sources:
V.E. Watts, 1988, Some Northumbrian Fishery Names III in Durham Archaeological Journal, 4, 1988, pp 53-59; Craster, A History of Northumberland, Vol. 8, p. 289, 294, 298,