Chance to own historic trade union banner

A banner which boasts best of trade union art is to be sold. TONY HENDERSON reports

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AN outstanding example of trade union art and heritage is to be sold on Tyneside.

The dark blue silk banner of the South Shields branch of the National Union of General and Municipal Workers is estimated at £1,000-£2,000 and will be sold by Anderson & Garland in Newcastle on Thursday.

The banner features a central illustration of South Shields Market Place, and separate images including Westoe Village, Marsden Rock, the town's Wouldhave Memorial, Mill Dam with the Customs House tavern and Seamen's Church, a fully rigged ship sailing past the Groyne lighthouse and pier and ships unloading, in dock, and being built.

A newspaper report tells how the new banner was unfurled in 1894 at the Free Library in South Shields before "an assemblage of trade unionists.

It was created by Samuel Peacock of Baring Street in South Shields who, in addition to being a banner maker, was also a dealer in china and an insurance agent.