Remembering two popular South Shields pubs

Mr Crozier, whose dad managed the pub, had asked if anyone had photos of the watering hole, which shared its name with at least one other in town (a picture of which appeared alongside the article which was published on May 23).

Pamela Siegel got in touch to say: “I’ve just read your story recalling the old Golden Lion pub.

“Janis Blower did a story, some time ago, about growing up in Boldon Lane slums.

“There is a photo, near the bottom of the story, which has been named incorrectly Pit Head, Harton Colliery. This is the corner of Green Lane and Boldon Lane.

“The Golden Lion is on the right of the photo. The man you can see is walking across the railway lines, and the wooden tower is the signal box where a man would be stationed to control the points, and at a later date the gates.”

Referring to the photo of The Golden Lion which appeared in the paper, Karl Harvey took to the Time Of Our Lives website to post: “I believe this picture of the Goldon Lion is actually in North Street, South Shields. It used to be somewhere between King Street and Queen Street.”

Bar steward comments: “Tragically, the stunning and grand Golden Lion was allowed to be demolished.”

Theliam poses the question: “My grandfather Billy Rowe used to drink there all of the time, did anyone know him, he was a character?”

Geordieman also took the time to post: “The Golden Lion pub was a great place in the 1960s to 1980s.

“It was a focal point for many who were doing the local pub and club crawl. The grand entrance was in King Street, and there were two floors. There was a big ballroom at the rear.

“The ballroom was used for wedding receptions, etc.”

Billy Burn also went online to state: “My aunt Nellie worked as a cleaner in the Golden Lion for years. The bar at the back had a name, can’t remember? It was over the lane from the Black And Grey.”

Meanwhile, Kevin Blair emailed to say: “The photo that appeared in Wednesday’s Gazette (May 25), you have as being taken at Wallsend, but it was taken at South Shields.

“The collier in the photo, Corpath, was built in Germany in 1912 and became Corpath for Cory Colliers in 1921. She was sold in 1934, so the photo dates sometime between 1921 and 1934.

“She was sunk by German aircraft off the coast of Liverpool on March 13, 1941. The tug to the left of Corpath is the Washington, and she was built on the Tyne, at South Shields by Readhead Sofley & Co in 1870 and was broken up by JJ King & Co Ltd, Gateshead, in 1952.

“The ferry you can see is the Wallsend, and she was built by Murray Brothers, Dumbarton, in 1890 as Clutha No.8. She was sold to Hawthorn Leslie & Co, Hebburn, in 1903 and named Wallsend ,and she was broken up in 1943.

“Did you notice the two boys’ heads sticking out of two of the portholes on the Wallsend? I hope it wasn’t as full below deck as it was on deck.

“Meanwhile, here’s a photo from my collection, showing HMS Queen Mary leaving the Tyne in September 1913. The photo was taken by R Johnston & Son, Gateshead.”

The Queen Mary was one of the British dreadnought battleships to be lost at the Battle Of Jutland.

As mentioned in recent articles, nine South Tyneside sailors lost their lives in the battle, which took place 100 years ago last week between the British Grand Fleet and its German counterpart.