📌 South Shields, Tyne & Wear
★★★
South Shields isn’t known for its old buildings, but its origins go back to Roman times when it was known as Arbeia. A Roman Fort was founded here around 160 AD and guarded the main route by sea to Hadrian’s Wall. It later became the primary supply fort for the wall’s east end and housed around 600 soldiers. Unlike most of the other excavated forts along the wall, parts of Arbeia have been reconstructed since the 1980s, re-using their original footprints. The enormous West Gate catches the eye, but the barracks and Commanding Officer’s House turn out to be more interesting, containing mocked-up living quarters. There is also a small museum displaying Roman artefacts discovered during the excavations.
🌍 Location
📌 Baring Street, 10-min walk north of South Shields town centre
🧭 O.S. Grid Reference: NZ 365679
🛰️ GPS coordinates: 55.004415,-1.431122
🚌 Bus to South Shields – nearest stop is on Lawe Road
🚗 Street parking
📝 Key info
⌚ Daily, 25 March to 29 December 2024
🎫 Free
