Upcoming Talk at South Shields Museum and Art Gallery

10th Jun 2026

From the Shields Gazette: https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/historian-to-delve-into-the-early-medieval-period-of-south-shields-8666152

Historian to delve into the Early Medieval period of South Shields

Ryan Smith

Published 10th Jun 2026, 11:30 BST

A local historian is taking a look into Anglo-Saxon South Shields.

Members of the public are invited to find out more about South Shields following the departure of the Romans in the early fifth century.

Luan Hanratty, a local historian, will be taking a look at how Arbeia maintained its significance in the area as he explores the Early Medieval context of the fort.

He will delve into the politics and figures that helped to shape the North East during this turbulent period.

During the talk, Luan will also examine the possible meanings of the site’s two ancient names, ‘Arbeia’ and ‘Caer Urfa’.

Despite the history of the site being explored for years, the ancient names continue to puzzle historians to this day.

The talk will take place at the South Shields Museum and Art Gallery, on Ocean Road, at 2pm on Wednesday, September 2.

Tickets for the talk are free and you can secure your place by visiting: https://www.ticketsource.com/booking/select/kogdbvlmxbwk