The Doxford family rose to prominence as timber merchants at Cox Green in the 1830s, commencing shipbuilding activities not long after. The East Yard was purchased in either the 1880s or 1890s, directly underneath what would be the Queen Alexandra Bridge. This site is shown on the 1890s maps adjacent to the old Wear Bottle Works. There is what appears to be building berths or a gridiron lying horizontal on the riverside alongside a sawmill. This was the expanded site, with the Pallion West Yard established in the 1850s.

Production at first focused on typical wooden merchant ships carrying whatever was required. However, they were an earlier adopter of iron working, and produced everything from naval gunboats to steamers. Tramps were produced, ie ad hoc workhorses for every corner of the world. Passenger liners were also constructed. In 1878 a marine and engine works were constructed at the yard, similar to Hawthorns at Hebburn, creating a huge complex with a supply chain from beginning to end. It was soon after William Doxford passed and was left to his sons, and later as a limited liability company in 1891.

The extent of the yard can be seen in the 1890s map, with an internal railway system and travelling crane against the river. It was directly next to Pallion Station, where workers would find themselves commuting each day and night from various parts of the town. The yard also featured its own locomotive shed, with crane engines supporting the manufacturing of the ships. A photograph of the locomotives and shed can be seen below.

Three berths were added in a revamped East Yard at the turn of the 20th century, featuring high cranes and a 100 ton radial crane, with full production paking in 1904. Through to WWI, the yard produced steel cargo ships as well as for wartime production. A large array of barges and destroyers (with Parsons engines) were produced for the war effort - many seeing action in the English Channel as well as in the Mediterranean. Some ended up in other navies, such as HMS Success which transferred to the Royal Australian Navy.

The company ended up in a partnership of the Northumberland Shipbuilding Co. and the Sperling Group. The latter collapsed in the mid 20s, leading to the yard being mothballed for 4 years. From thereon, tankers and motor vessels became the predominant workings at the yard. This continued through the 40s, and into wartime further cargo ships were constructed for the government in lieu of private companies.

The yard was extended after the war, with the Palmers Hill Engine Works next to Monkwearmouth Bridge over the river incorporated . By the 60s when the yard was still producing large tankers, the parent company amalgamated with the Laing and Thompson Yards, and over the course of the next two decades there were further mergers and renamings.

In 1973, the yard was demolished to be replaced with a Shipbuilding Hall, large enough to accomodate 2 ships of 30k tons dwt. It was 181 metres long by 50 metres wide and 32 metres high. The first vessel constructed was the Cedarbank in 1976.

It was nationalised in 1975, and over the next 13 years orders were dripfed. The last was a cluster of 15 Danish ferries, and the yard finally closed in 1988. The shipbuilding hall is extant and the Doxford Gates stand as a monument to one of the Sunderland's mightiest shipbuilders.