No air-built castles, and no fairy bowers,
But thou, fair Tynemouth, and thy well-known towers,
Now bid thā historic muse explore the maze
Of long past years, and tales of other days.
Pride of Northumbria!āfrom thy crowded port,
Where Europeās brave commercial sons resort,
Her boasted mines send forth their sable stores,
To buy the varied wealth of distant shores.
Here the tall lighthouse, bold in spiral height,
Glads with its welcome beam the seamanās sight.
Here, too, the firm redoubt, the rampartās length,
The death-fraught cannon, and the bastionās strength,
Hang frowning oāer the briny deep below,
To guard the coast against thā invading foe.
Here health salubrious spreads her balmy wings,
And woos the sufferer to her saline springs;
And, here the antiquarian strays around
The ruinād abbey, and its sacred ground.
Jane Harvey
From āThe Castle of Tynemouth. A Taleā (1806)
Hereās one for Shields:
North Shields, a town by the sea,
Whose harbor bustles with activity.
Fishing boats and ships come and go,
Carrying cargo and stories to show.
The river Tyne flows by its side,
A lifeline for trade and maritime pride.
Its banks dotted with pubs and bars,
A perfect spot to admire the stars.
The Fish Quay, a place of history,
Where fishing families lived in unity.
Nowadays, itās a hub for food,
Fish and chips, and seafood stewed.
The High Street, lined with shops,
A busy place that never stops.
From local boutiques to chain stores,
Something for everyone to explore.
The āCliffordās Fortā stands tall and proud,
A reminder of North Shieldās past aloud.
Built to defend against foreign foes,
Now itās a monument to cherish and show.
North Shields, a town with a heart,
Its people friendly, kind, and smart.
A place to visit and call home,
Where the sea meets the land, and you can roam.