Is south shields really newcastle?
No. South Shields is a distinct town, at the mouth of the Tyne on its southern bank. Newcastle, on the other hand, is some miles inland, and on the northern bank. The trouble is that smaller towns get subsumed into the identity of their larger neighbours. For example the residents of Gateshead, which is directly opposite Newcastle on the southern bank of the Tyne, would regard the thought of being considered part of Newcastle with absolute horror! The confusion is not helped by the fact that in 1974, when Local Government in England was reorganised, Newcastle and South Shields were both included in the Metropolitan County of Tyne and Wear.
