Laurel park movie9/2/2023 Stan’s father ran several theatres around the north east of England – two in North Shields and others in Blyth, Jarrow, Hebburn, Wallsend, and Bishop Auckland. You can’t miss the site because there’s a blue heritage plaque on the front wall of the house, although, bizarrely, some of the dates are wrong. Previously he’d frequently been left to live with his grandmother when his parents toured the country. The original house was notable because it was the first place where Stan had permanently been able to live with his parents. Look for house number 6 on Dockwray Square which was once the site of his family’s residence – a large terraced house. You can still see the location of Stan Laurel’s old family home. Sadly the original house where Stan Laurel once lived were demolished in the 1930s. Leave the park from the back gate and turn left onto the square of modern houses. Point 3 – 8 Dockwray Square – Stan Laurel’s Home Life Bizarrely, the newborn is crossed out on the list of people on the Census form because he arrived overnight! Stan Laurel listed in the 1901 Census c/o Ancestry She was a midwife who was waiting for the delivery of Stan’s baby brother on Census day. Mary Ellis – a ‘monthly nurse’ – is also listed. The 1901 Census shows the family living at 8 Dockwray Square with Sarah Metcalfe, Stan’s grandmother, as well as two domestic servants. Arthur Jefferson moved to North Shields to manage several theatres including the Theatre Royal. They moved around the country with their work and were never in one place for long. His father was Arthur Jefferson, a theatre manager and actor from Bishop Auckland, and his mother Margaret (‘Madge’ – née Metcalfe), was an actress. He later claimed that the experience of living in North Shields “made me”. Stan’s family moved to North Shields around 1895 and he spent 10 years of his life in the town between the ages of 5-15. Stan was worried that a name with 13 letters might be bad luck so he officially became ‘Stan Laurel’ in 1931. The name change to Stan Laurel came later when he was living in Hollywood. Stan Laurel was born ‘Arthur Stanley Jefferson’ in Ulverston, Lancashire in 1890. It’s clear that the town was an important influence on him as were its people and his parents’ theatrical friends. Stan Laurel has been quoted as saying that his heart belonged to North Shields. It’s a decent likeness and captures the cheeky humour of his befuddled character. A statue by artist Bob Olley was erected in 1992 to commemorate Stan Laurel’s association with North Shields. You should now be standing in Laurel Park. Walk through the main gate and head towards the large statue of Stan Laurel in the centre of the park. On your left, you’ll reach a small park – Laurel Park – named after Stan Laurel. Point 2 – Dockwray Square Laurel Park – North Shields – Stan’s Childhood Home But the riverfront scene would have been very different in his day with dozens of fishing boats plying their trade along the river, and fish being gutted on the quayside. Walk for about 100 metres towards another tall, white building called the New High Light which is directly opposite Dockwray Square where the young Stan Laurel lived in the early 1900s.įrom here there are panoramic views over North Shields Fish Quay and the River Tyne which must have been a familiar sight for the young Stan Laurel. This distinctive building was designed to help guide ships along the river and would’ve been well known to Stan Laurel who lived on a street nearby. Start your tour at the Old High Light on the corner of Tyne Street and Beacon Street in North Shields. ‘ Even tho’ I was born in Lancashire, I’ve always felt I belonged to Shields.” Stan Laurel letter to Vic Silver (a Tyneside comedian), 1955 START – Point 1 – The Old High Light – Tyne Street – North Shields
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