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.

Paul Perry was born and raised in Jarrow, where he pursued a career in photography. After learning his profession, he operated from a studio in the town, and it was here Paul was introduced to the delights of local history. In 1966 he began amassing a collection of images of his hometown and surrounding area, which is now in excess of 30,000. Paul has written a number of local history books over the last twenty years.