John Lister was a long running shipbuilder at Hylton, who took on what is likely this plot at South Hylton after breaking partnership with the more well known George Bartram. With Bartram, they built around 40 ships from 1837 through to 1854 here: https://www.northeastheritagelibrary.co.uk/shipbuilding-archive/hyl001/north-hylton%2C-lister-%26-bartram-shipyard

Lister very likely moved to this location in 1855, and constructed around 20 ships for the next 11 years. These were all fairly modest constructions for local and Welsh cargo merchants. The yard itself was in quite a constrained plot in a dug out earthwork between High Street and Dawson Street near the old Leopard public house. There was no dock, so it would have likely been building berths which will have dropped the vessel into the river at high tide.

There is sadly very little information on Lister and the shipyard, and by the 1890s there was no trace and no longer in existence. However, there were likely other builders here certainly before and perhaps after Lister which will be researched in due course.