Percy Amateur Rowing Club

The Percy Amateur Rowing Club was formed in 1872 and they were granted the lease of a boathouse at the Low Lights area in North Shields, close to what is now the Fish Quay. The boathouse was formally used as a "Salmon Hatchery House" before the Duke of Northumberland's Estate granted the l;ease for it to be used a Boat House. The main mover behind establishing the Club seems to be a Mr. Tulloch. It is not known how long the Club existed but it is suspected only a few years owing to the lack of references.

Original lease dated 1872 for the Percy ARC Boathouse at the Low Lights, North Shields. (Reproduced courtesy of Northumberland Estates office.)

27th December 1923
The Northern Whig reported:
Ernest Barry, ex-champion oarsman of the world, was at scratch in the Christmas half-mile handicap held at Newcastle yesterday. Conceding 19 seconds start to J. Clark, of the Percy Rowing Club, he was beaten half length.

3rd February 1931
The Shields Daily News reported:
Joseph Pelton of Cleveland Road, North Shields celebrated his Golden Wedding. As a young man was an enthusiastic sportsman, and was particularly keen on rowing. One the big rowing events in which he took part occurred in 1874, when he was matched against Samuel Dubbyn of North Shields in a mile race (from Redheugh Bridge) in connection with the Percy Rowing Club. Both young men were noted oarsmen, and public interest was very keen, the steamboat "Providence" being chartered to follow the race. The encounter was very keen, Dubbyn winning by three quarters of a length.