The earliest reference to a shipbuilding site here is in 1827, with Wood's Plan of Gateshead showing the shipyard labelled as "Robson and Gray", who had constructed vessels for local merchants here. It is more as the Gaddy & Lamb shipyard who operated here until 1892.

They produced mainly wooden sailing ships (though there were a couple of iron vessels made here) for local merchants though some were made further afield. The 1890s maps show the two slipways at the site with limited facilities apart froma crane.

An illustration likely from the mid 19th century also shows the two slipways alongside an engine house and small crane.