Percy Main is a small village absorbed into North Shields, North East England. Historically in Northumberland, it is now part of Tyne and Wear. History It is named after the colliery belonging to the Percy family, which was located just south of the railway, near St. John's church. The colliery was sunk in 1799 & went to a depth of 247 metres to the renowned Main seam, which was considered the best coal for household use. The village grew up around it to serve the pit, which eventually closed in 1895. In 1872, the population was recorded as 3,953, residing in 786 houses. The inhabitants worked mainly in the neighbouring docks and other industries. During World War II, children from the village were evacuated to Hexham, Northumberland. Recreation Sport Sport is popular in the village, with Percy Main Cricket Club playing at St John's Green in the Northumberland and Tyneside Senior Cricket League, with their next door neighbours Percy Main Amateurs F.C. playing at Purvis Park in the Northern Football Alliance Premier Division. A hedge separates the two teams. Transport Rail The village's main and only modern-day railway station is the Percy Main Metro station. The original footbridge from the station is preserved at the National Railway Museum, York. A passenger station opened on the Newcastle and North Shields Railway around 1840. It closed on 11 August 1980 to allow conversion for the Metro, before re-opening on 14 November 1982. In 2020, Nexus constructed a new depot for the Tyne and Wear Metro on a former landfill site immediately to the east of the village. The depot will house rolling stock while the South Gosforth Traction Maintenance Depot is reconstructed in anticipation of a new fleet in late 2021. Originally intended to be a temporary measure, upgrades to the Metro system around South Shields may mean the deport is made a permanent feature. Bus Go Ahead Group has a bus depot on Norham Road and a number of its services pass through the village. Hollywood Trivia Film Director brothers Ridley Scott and Tony Scott formed their first film production company under the name Percy Main Productions. Thelma & Louise is a notable film during this time. In 1996 they renamed their production company to Scott Free, and finally to Scott Free Productions. Religion Percy Main is part of a Church of England parish that also includes Meadow Well, East Howdon