Thrift Street
Thrift Street was also known as Commerce Street there are references to Thrift Street as early as 1802 so probably both names were in common use, though Commerce Street declines in use after the 1830s and Thrift Street is the most popular, this follows a similar pattern of usage to Ocean Road and German Street.
Thrift Street ran from the Market Place along the riverside until it joined Long Row just after Broad Landing.
The address numbers on Thrift Street start from the market end on the left side of Thrift Street go down to Long Row then continue on the other side as displayed in this Ward’s 1895-96 Trade Directory. Pub numbers: Bee Hive pub is 5, Globe Inn is 25, Marquis of Lorne is 59, Union Flag pub is 62 (note numbers do change as buildings added and removed).
A short section of Thrift Street still exists to the left of Heron Foods in the Market.
In 1827 there were 10 pubs advertised in trade directories for Commerce/Thrift Street it was about 200 yards long so a pub every 20 yards!
The most notable buildings on Thrift Street were Forsyth’s Dock later Tyne Dock Engineering ship repair yard, The Union Flag, The Marquis of Lorne and The Old Greenland Fishery public houses. There are references to a “cockpit” where cock fighting would have taken place the building was later was used as a Methodist chapel! Cock fighting was banned in England in 1835.
Sources:
Notes on the History of Shipbuilding in South Shields 1746-1946, Amy Flagg
Borough of South Shields, George B Hodgson
British Newspaper Archives
Terry Ford
Photos
South Tyneside Libraries
Terry Ford