A famous wooden statue and maritime symbol of North Shields has found a new home.
For decades, the Wooden Dolly has been the proud centrepiece of Northumberland Square, standing as a testament to the town's seafaring traditions.
The statue, depicting a fishwife with a basket, was restored in 2020 after more than 60 years standing in the centre of the square, but the plan was always to preserve and protect the dolly by moving it indoors.
Now, after being vandalised in December 2022 and restored for a second time, the dolly has taken up residence inside North Shields Library and is enjoying a well-earned retirement, while still being enjoyed by all.
A replacement will be unveiled in the square in 2025 to coincide with celebrations for the 800th anniversary of fishing in North Shields.
Councillor Carl Johnson, Deputy Mayor of North Tyneside Council, emphasised the importance of preserving a cherished piece of public art, steeped in the town's seafaring history.
He said: “The tradition of Wooden Dollies has deep roots in North Shields, and though previous statues have come and gone, this Wooden Dolly has survived.
"In her new home, residents and visitors will be able to continue to appreciate her significance, and we will commission a replacement statue for the centre of the square to ensure the tradition lives on for future generations.”
The first of North Shields’ wooden dolls was placed at the entrance to Customs House Quay, on Liddell Street, in 1814.
It became traditional for mariners to shave pieces of wood from the figure as good luck charms before going to sea and a replacement doll was made each time the previous version was defaced beyond recognition.
The Northumberland Square dolly is the fifth statue of its kind.
In 1992, a sixth Wooden Dolly was placed where the first four had been at the entrance to Customs House Quay.
Carved from a single piece of mahogany by renowned sculptor Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson, the statue depicts a fishwife carrying a basket on her back and hidden mice, becoming an emblem of the town since its unveiling in 1958.
However, due to exposure to the elements, the statue began to show signs of rot and North Tyneside Council initiated a restoration project in 2019. She was given a new lease of life by carpenters at the 'Mouseman' workshop in Kilburn, North Yorkshire, where she was originally crafted by Robert Thompson.
By September 2020 she was back where she belonged in the centre of Northumberland Square.
The restoration process was overseen by Ian Thompson Cartwright, Senior Director at Robert Thompson's Ltd and great-grandson of the sculptor.