Thomas & Nicholas Davie were known to have a shipyard adjacent to the Hylton Ferry from the 1830s, with their last vessel constructed in 1841.

There is limited information on the pair. Thomas 'Davee' appears to have been born around 1820, while Nicholas born around 1808. He is still noted as a shipwright in the 1861 census when he was living over in Monkton nr Jarrow. They may have been brothers or perhaps cousins.

Given how long ago it is, we don't have any maps from the time they were operating. The 1850s Ordnance Survey shows a rectangular dock next to the ferry, with a sawpit and ancillary buildings. This may be the same type, but modernised over the next decade. We do know there were at least 6 ships built here, all for merchants in the region including Cuthbert Potts, very likely of the famous Wearside Potts family. They were all small rigged ships - snows, schooners and brigs.

The site is now an urban green on the banks of the river.

(As this database is a work in progress, further additions may be added once the information is uncovered)