*Please note the information with this yard may be incomplete as data is being added by owner, rather than chronologically. As a result, this yard may have been worked before and after the dates listed.

This site at Monkwearmouth Shore has likely been utilised for shipbuilding for centuries prior, but we can likely pin a confirmed user from 1825. The Lumsden family were very active in these parts for two principal outputs - timber sailing vessels alongside their Strand Iron Works where chains, anchors and iron chairs were produced.

Edward & Rodger first started operating from 1825 with their vessel "Lumsdon", presumably the families original spelling variation. Sadly, a search into their family produces very limited results apart from the fact they lived at Bridge Street in the 1860s and 70s. They built wholly wooden vessels for themselves as well as other local merchants. This means it was possible the family were part of the merchant navy first, but began to source their own ships as a means of cutting their own costs or as an extra revenue stream.

Interestingly they continued building wooden vessels despite operating their own iron works, but it would certainly come in handy for the fittings and fixtures. The Strand Iron Works was opened by both Edward and Joseph around the 1860s. When privately selling their vessels they requested any correspondence to be routed via the Strand Iron Works, with some ships fitted out for journeys as far away as India for the lucrative colonial trade. They also produced their own anchors - certainly also a money spinner.

The family packed in the shipbuilding business by 1869, though likely folded in 1870 alongside the Iron Works. Around 150 men were thrown out of employment with their debts as high as £26,000 despite a spotless reputation globally for their iron products. Thereafter they appeared to live modest lives at North Bridge Street as iron merchants, though interestingly a certain Stephen Eltringham (ship owner) also lived with them. Folks will certainly recognise this name is of a Tyneside shipbuilding pedigree.

-

North Sand Point at Monkwearmouth was the site of David Baxter's shipyard in the early 1880s. As far as we're aware Baxter first started operations in 1881, and before this he is listed as a Master Mariner. He perhaps took up the vocation of shipbuilder after suffering injury or as a change of scenery. It is verified by a Shields Daily News piece from July 1884 that he did start in this year, as it notes Baxter opened the yard "a few years ago" during an assizes case at Newcastle.

Baxter built at least 13 ships here. The yard numbers for the vessels begin at 20, so it is likely there was another owner at least for a short time before Baxter. His sole production was of iron screw steamers for merchants around the North Sea as well as a one off for Palmers and the Devon Steam Shipping Co. It was likely to have been located at modern day Topcliff. Formerly Sand Point Road came through this site for a ferry to the other side of Sunderland Harbour. We cannot visualise this site in the 1880s as there is no maps, but those illustrated in the 1850s shows a modest timber shipyard with saw pits, a workshop and smithy. If this is the Baxter, it undertook extensive modernisation given the construction of iron vessels.

Baxter was being sued for not paying towards the engine fitted in 1884, which led to his demise. The engine builders Ross & Duncan for his ship Greetlands, which was launched despite lack of payments towards the engines and furnishings. It's clear they were already seeing some financial troubles given the non payment, and Ross & Duncan were expected to lodge the case through Baxter's bankruptcy. This hammered the nail of any wish to restart operations.

The site, if it is to be believed north of Sand Point Road, was cleared through the 1880s and by the 1890s was unused industrial land except for the East House public house. It is possible Baxter was the last tenant of the land for shipbuilding.