Jarrow then & now

Renowned as a centre of ship-building and steel-working in the early twentieth century, the town of Jarrow, on the river Tyne, has seen a huge amount of change over the course of the last 100 years.

Today, the famous shipyards of Jarrow are silent, yet it is difficult to imagine that they ever existed.

The town continues to thrive, and new buildings constantly appear, from the bustling modern town centre to the quiet garden suburb of Primrose Hill.

An intriguing insight into days gone by, local historian and photographer Paul Perry illustrates the changes that have been wrought upon the town through a selection of captivating images from his archive alongside full-colour modern photographs of the same scene today.

Not only do we see these differences in the streets and buildings but also in the people and the way they work and live.