North Shields Harbour

Next to fishing, salt manufacture was the principal industry of the town. Shields salt had a world-wide reputation and a hundred pans were in active operation. It was mostly women who carried out the work of extracting the salt by evaporation, while keelmen carried the salt to the ships for export. Much of the salt found its way to Russia.

Postcard showing Clifford's Fort

In 1528, North Shields sent out six 'crayers' to the Icelanic fleet. They also fished off the Shetlands and the north coast of Scotland. Ling and cod were the principal catches, being salted and sold at Newcastle. Large quantities of salmon were sent from Berwick to Shields, to be cured and pickled, before being sent to London in tubs.