Shipbuilding Archive

The North East was the engine of the world. It powered the planet with its coal, but transported it with its ships.

Though the docks are filled in, the collective memory of the hard graft and creaking hulls live on.

Scroll down to discover the famous shipyards which fuelled the growth of this great region.

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Submit an Entry

SCW001

Tyne

Scotswood Shipbuilding Yard

Newcastle

Scotswood

Campbell & Bowstead (1881 - 1885) Scotswood Shipbuilding Co. (1891 - 1894)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

LEM001

Tyne

Oliver's Shipyard

Lemington

Bells Close

Oliver, Tyne Iron Co. (1867-68)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SWI004

Wear

Dixon Shipyard, Southwick

Sunderland

Southwick

Thomas Dixon, William Dixon, Henry Dixon

Created:

6 Nov 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

BEN001

Tyne

Benwell Boat House, Shipyard

Newcastle

Benwell

William Armstrong

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SUN030

Wear

Laing Shipyard, Deptford

Sunderland

Deptford

Philip Laing (1818 - 1843), Thomas Simey (1834 - 1837) James Laing (1844 - 1898), Sir James Laing & Sons Ltd. (1898 - 1965), Doxford & Sunderland Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd. (1966 - 1977), British Shipbuilders (1977 - 1986)

Created:

14 May 2025

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

HAR003

Hartlepool

Winspear Shipyard

Hartlepool

Middleton

John Winspear, Henry Taylor, Mark Dring, John Pattison

Created:

5 Dec 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

HAR007

Hartlepool

Swainson Dock, Shipyard

Hartlepool

West Hartlepool

John Pile, Joseph Spence (1852 - 1866), Denton Gray & Co. (1868), William Gray, William Cresswell Gray

Created:

29 Jan 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SUN031

Wear

Pallion, Leithead Shipyard

Sunderland

Pallion

Andrew Leithead, James Leithead, Arrow Leithead

Created:

28 May 2025

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

HB001

Tyne

Hawthorn Leslie, Shipyard

Hebburn

R.W Hawthorn, Leslie and Company Ltd. (1853 - 1968), Swan Hunter and Tyne Shipbuilders Ltd. (1968 - 1977), British Shipbuilders (1977), Cammel Lairds

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SUN016

Wear

Jackdaw Dock

Sunderland

Messrs Bowes Bros (1800s), Thomas Burn (1814 - 1817),

Created:

15 Aug 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

WAL005

Tyne

Ryton Marine, Shipyard

Wallsend

R & D Lambie, Ryton Engineering Ltd, Ryton Marine Ltd. (1972 - 1974)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

NCL008

Tyne

North Shore, Shipyard

Newcastle

North Shore

William Carrs (Carse)

Created:

15 May 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

Map

Background photo: Readhead's Shipyard c1960 by Ronald Sanderson, copyright free from Tyne and Wear Archives

Historic Maps provided by