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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. 

The Shipbuilding Archive is an ongoing, long term project to uncover and document every known shipyard in the North East and its location. From medieval times to the 18th and 19th centuries, pinning names and stories to our to our river banks provides even greater meaning to the landscapes around us.

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WQ001

Tyne

Clelands Yard

Wallsend

Willington Quay

H English (1836), William Cleland (1866-1872), William Cleland & Co. Ltd. (1872), Clelands Graving Dock and Slipway Co Ltd., Clelands (Shiprepairers) Ltd (1920-1932), Clelands (Successors) Ltd. (1932-1934), Craggs family (1934), Swan, Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd. (1967-1977), British Shipbuilders (1977)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

11 Jul 2025

WQ003

Tyne

Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Co., Shipyard

Wallsend

Willington Quay

Wallsend Slipway Co Ltd. (1871-1878), Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Co. Ltd. (1878 - 1977)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

11 Jul 2025

SUN025

Wear

Low Street Slipway

Sunderland

Bishopwearmouth

George Liddle, Robert Liddle (1830 - 1834) Ralph Hutchinson, William Hutchinson, Edwin Hutchinson

Created:

5 Mar 2025

Updated:

9 Jul 2025

HYL006

Wear

Liddle & Sutcliff Shipyard

Sunderland

North Hylton

James Liddle, John Sutcliff

Created:

25 Jun 2025

Updated:

25 Jun 2025

HD001

Tyne

Hurry's Shipbuilding Yard

Wallsend

Howdon

Francis Hurry (1761-1811), W Wright (1820 - 1838)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SUN020

Wear

Ravens Wheel, Douglass Shipyard

Sunderland

Monkwearmouth

Dennis Douglass

Created:

20 Nov 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SS001

Tyne

South Shields, Raft Yard

South Shields

South Shields

Edwards Family (1821 - 1899)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SS006

Tyne

Spring Lane, Repair Yard

South Shields

South Shields

Unknown

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

HD004

Tyne

Brown Shipyard

Wallsend

Howdon

Thomas Brown (1840 - 1850)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SS018

Tyne

Robson's Shipyard

South Shields

Wapping Street

Edward Robson

Created:

13 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SUN019

Wear

Pearson's Slipway

Sunderland

Bishopwearmouth

William H Pearson, John Denniston, Samuel Peter Austin

Created:

23 Oct 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

NCL001

Tyne

Mushroom Shipyard

Byker

St Peters

Cunningham & Carr (1839 - 1859), Hutchinson (c1860 - c1870)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

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

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