Commemorating the 90th anniversary of the Jarrow Crusade.

A new exhibition at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery invites visitors to discover the stories, photographs and personal memories behind one of the most significant protests in British history. 

Remembering the Jarrow Crusade explores the events of October 1936, when 200 unemployed men set out from Jarrow on a near-300-mile march to London to highlight the poverty and unemployment affecting their community. 

On 5 October 1936, the group began their journey south, determined to draw national attention to the hardship facing Jarrow following the closure of its once-thriving shipyard and steelworks.  

Against this backdrop of economic hardship and a deep sense of injustice, the Jarrow Crusade became a powerful demonstration of solidarity and determination. The march captured the imagination of the nation and has since become one of the most celebrated protests of the 1930s. 

South Shields Museum & Art Gallery Manager, Geoff Woodward, joined local MP Kate Osborne in Parliament on Monday 19 October to mark the anniversary of the Jarrow Crusade. He said: 

"The Jarrow Crusade is a significant part of our region’s history, reflecting the hardship faced by local people during the 1930s, but also their resilience and determination to fight for a better future. We hope this exhibition will help visitors connect with this important chapter." 

Geoff Woodward joined Kate Osborne, MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East, in London on Monday 19 October in Parliament to celebrate 90 years of the Jarrow Crusade.  

Through personal interviews, photographs, stories and memories, Remembering the Jarrow Crusade brings together collection objects, offering visitors an opportunity to explore the experiences and determination behind the march.

The exhibition is on display in the stairwell gallery at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery until 1 February 2027. Entry is free, and donations are welcome.

About South Shields Museum & Art Gallery 
At the very heart of the community, South Shields Museum celebrates the rich heritage of South Tyneside and the people who shaped it. The building that South Shields Museum currently occupies has had a long and interesting past. It was constructed in 1860 as a home for the South Shields Literary, Mechanical and Scientific Institution. In 1873 the building became the town’s first free Public Library and Reading rooms and it opened as a museum in 1876. 
The museum is spread over two floors telling the story of the borough's social, industrial and maritime history from 4,000 years ago to the present day through a range of displays, exhibitions and nationally significant works of art. 
On the ground floor you can get closer to the collection and treasures of South Tyneside. There's also Creature Corner, home to resident reptiles and spiders, the shop and a small cafe, the Victorian Pantry, serving a range of hot and cold refreshments. 

Up on the first floor are the temporary exhibition and art gallery spaces which hold regular exhibitions. 

South Shields Museum Ocean Road South Shields NE33 2JA www.southshieldsmuseum.org.uk | info@southshieldsmuseum.org.uk (0191) 211 5599