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Pub mural found in loft returned to tavern wall

Eddie Rowley A dark section of the 1956 painting showing the Abergeldie sea trawler, with a red hull and smoke coming out of a shimney, in tones of muted brown.Eddie Rowley
The Abergeldie sea trawler was painted by Eddie Rowley in 1956

A previously lost mural has been returned to the walls of the pub it was originally painted on almost 70 years ago.

The image of sea trawler The Abergeldie moored in North Shields was created by decorator Eddie Rowley in the Low Lights Tavern in 1956.

Originally thought to have been lost during redecoration work in the 2000s, it transpires the painted wallpaper had been removed, preserved and mounted on plywood, and was rediscovered by a local fisherman last year.

Rowley's daughter, Judith Rowley, said her father would be "so proud" to see it returned.

"It's such a shame he's not here - he only died four or five years ago," she said.

"He'd be so proud to see it back, we all are, I'm so proud."

Regulars at the pub tell stories that Rowley - who was employed to redecorate the pub - spent the morning sketching the scene from the bank of North Shields before going to work and asking permission from the landlord to recreate it on the wall.

Tom Webb, 89, used to be work on the ship and said he remembered vividly the time he fell overboard.

"I was lucky that I was wearing the yellow shirts, not the black ones," he said.

"If I was wearing the black they'd probably never have found me.

"When I came to the tavern I'd look up at it and remember it - it was a reminder that I still had my life."

Tom Webb, who is 89, sitting in the Low Lights pub, wearing a grey knitted, zip up hoodie and holding both hands in front of him on the top of a walking stick.
Tom Webb, 89, once fell off the real Abergeldie

The newly replaced mural was unveiled at the tavern in front of Rowley's family and members Tynemouth's fishing community.

North Shields Fisherman's Heritage Project chairman Terry McDermott said: "It wasn't a historically important ship but, of course, now it's important to all of us.

"It'll be remembered thanks to the painting."

The pub has been serving people working on the Fish Quay for more than 400 years.

Current owner Danny Higney said he was "over the moon" to have the painting returned.

"It was much revered by many of our local fishermen back in the day," he said.

"I'm thrilled we can unveil this treasured piece of our history."

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