Built as a subscription library in 1806-07 (the first in the North of England) for the Tynemouth Literary and Philosophical Society. The large stag motif on the left gable wall dates from use of the building between 1895-1980 by Stag Line Ltd, one of Tyneside’s oldest family-owned shipping companies. It was started in North Shields in 1817 by Captain James Robinson with a single sailing brig, ‘Blessing’. James Robinson died in 1833 and management passed to his widow Grace, who in turn passed it to her son Joseph in 1844. By 1879 all their sailing vessels had been sold and the company owned eleven steamers. By 1914 the company owned twelve ships but many were lost in the war, and by 1918 only had two. Several ships were purchased or built between the wars, and in 1939 the fleet totalled seven ships, of which four were lost to enemy action. After World War II the company purchased four wartime-built ships and new ones ordered later. Stag Line were among the first ships to trade to the Great Lakes after the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway. In 1981 the company was taken over by Hunting Gibson plc who also managed Hunting & Sons fleet but in 1983 the last Stag Line ship was sold. The stag motif was an important part of the company branding. Originally coloured white on a red background, it was designed to be highly visible to all ships passing along the river. After a brief period as a pub/restaurant (in the basement) the building changed purpose again and became a Registrar’s Office, with marriages being conducted in the old shipping directors’ offices.
http://www.bshs.org.uk/travel-guide/1-howard-street-north-shields
