Church Of St Hilda

The Church of St Hilda is a Grade II listed building located in the Market Place. The tower dates from the 18th century, while the main body of the church was rebuilt between 1810 and 1811. It is constructed of ashlar stone and features a hipped slate roof. The church has two tiers of windows; the lower ones are tall, and the upper ones are small "clearstory" windows, all adorned with semi-circular hoods. The apse includes three lights, and there is a Tuscan doorcase marking the former entrance in the center of the north wall.

The west tower has rusticated quoins and contains a semi-circular headed west door. Above this door is a circular window, followed by two stages with louvred belfry openings, culminating in a clock and a pyramidal slate roof behind a parapet. Flanking the tower are vestries, each featuring a "Venetian" window and external stairs leading to a gallery.

Inside, the church is a single space with galleries supported by cast iron columns. Notable interior features include a font from 1675 made by Robert Trollop, a gilt chandelier from 1802, and a model of a lifeboat from the same year suspended from the ceiling. The organ case was designed by J F Bentley between 1865 and 1866. The church serves as the parish church of South Shields and is believed to be located on the site of a chapel founded by St Aidan around AD 647, which was placed in charge of St Hilda.