Ayres Quay is a historic shipbuilding area in Sunderland, and we know for a fact vessels were built here by the 18th century but undoubtedly longer. In fact, we know they were built exactly at this site as the Ayres Quay Bottle Works had been in operation since 1696. Our first findings is the operations by Thomas Reed & Thomas Embleton, who built a brig here in 1797 for themselves to ship general cargo for a few years until it was sold onto a Cuthbert Sharp. Little else can be found on the partnership, but the vessel lasted well into the 1830s when it was registered at Lynn (now Kings Lynn). It's worth noting a Thomas Reed also constructed ships at Gateshead in the early 18th century (https://www.northeastheritagelibrary.co.uk/shipbuilding-archive/gd005/reed's-shipyard). This could be a potential family connection.

For the next 30 odd years the history of the site is more hazy. This entry is a work in progress, so further information will be added once found.

Thomas Cairncross was building ships at Ayre's Quay by 1839. We know very little which is why this entry is predominantly focused on Abbay, however he constructed at least 3 ships at this site until 1842. All 3 were merchant vessels generally operating the North Sea routes from our area to Scandinavia and Germany. For some reason however his work abruptly ended in 1842, leaving the yard vacant thereafter.

William Abbay claimed a small shipyard in the mid 1840s at Ayre's Quay. He operated here until at least 1858, and it is known he built around 25 ships at this site.

The yard was east of the now infilled Saltgrass Dock before the large Deptford Shipyard was constructed. Shipyards are illustrated on the 1850s shipyards at the top end of the peninsula above the Ballast Hills Bottle Works. This is the most likely location of the site, given he was still operating in 1855 when this map was drawn up.

The 6 inch map is not clear on its facilities. It appears the yard likely featured building berths as opposed to its own dock, though a feature is shown on the western extremity that could represent this. It was the likely neighbour of the Laing Brothers who commenced operations in 1843. They eventually absorbed the whole site, and we can imagine they bought up the land once Abbay ceased operations after the 1850s.

The majority of his vessels were sailing barques, catering for general cargo merchants both in the North East and in Yorkshire. He was born at Little Ouseburn nr Harrogate in 1820 and appears to have retained some links given a few his ships ended up being registered at Whitby, Bridlington and Goole. The vast majority however worked the routes to the continent from the North East. Sunderland to the Med, India and Barcelona are referenced.

William remained at Sunderland until at least the 1870s. He died in 1886 at Park Villa, Knaresborough aged 67. Any other references of him are scant, but it isn't unreasonable to suggest the Abbay Street in Southwick is named after him.

Today, the site in its entirety is consumed by Liebherr, and no trace remains unless scant traces on the riverbank.