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HD002

Tyne

Howdon

Tyne Improvement Commission, Repair Yard

Wallsend

54.988985, -1.484630

Useful Links:

Opened:

1857

Closed:

1980

Owners:

Tyne Improvement Commission, William Press Ltd.

Types built here:

Lighter, Dredger, Hopper Barge

Customers (Not Exhaustive):

Tyne Improvement Commission

Estimated Output:

15

Construction Materials:

Status:

Redeveloped

Last Updated:

11/07/23

Description

The Tyne Improvement Commission, formed by Royal Assent in 1850, were in charge of maintaining the Tyne to allow safe access for ships through dredging, and to improve the channel also.

The site at Howdon was built over Howdon Dock and Howdon Pans shipyard to repair their ferries, dregers and barges. They did also construct their own vessels in the first decade of their inception, though this was later contracted out to other shipbuilders on the Tyne. In the 1890s there was a subtantial dock enclosed with stone walls and a riverside pier. There is also two repair slipways and mooring dolphins, which held vessels stabled for attention.

The yard was taken over by William Press Ltd in the 80s, who worked on offshore platforms similar to the work undertaken today. The site has been filled in and part of the Port of Tyne.

'Sketches of The Coal Mines in Northumberland and Durham' T.H.Hair, published in 1844

Ordnance Survey, 1916

Have we missed something, made a mistake, or have something to add? Contact us

Historic Environment Records

Durham/Northumberland: Keys to the Past

Tyne and Wear: Sitelines

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HER information as described above is reproduced under the basis the resource is free of charge for education use. It is not altered unless there are grammatical errors. 

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