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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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GD003

Tyne

Harrison's Shipyard

Gateshead

Bill Quay

William M Boutland (1818 - 1854), Robert Maddison (1834 - 1852)William E Boutland (1872 - 1879), RB Harrison & Sons Ltd. (1921 - 1960), MEP Group (until 1980s)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SS017

Tyne

Stone Quay

South Shields

Holborn

William Gilley (1787 - 1791) Thomas Metcalf (1814 - 1860s), J T Eltringham (1864 - 1913), Middle Dock Engineering Co.

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

TWE001

Tweed

Todd's Shipyard

Berwick upon Tweed

Tweedmouth

Joseph Todd, John Robertson, John Miller Dickson

Created:

24 Aug 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

GD005

Tyne

Reed's Shipyard

Gateshead

South Shore

Thomas Reed

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

GD006

Tyne

Headlam's Shipyard

Gateshead

South Shore

Headlam & Co.

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SUN023

Wear

Mowbrays Quay

Sunderland

Pallion

John Mowbray, John Hodgson, George Short

Created:

5 Feb 2025

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

COQ02

Coquet

Harrison's Boat Yard

Amble

Amble

William Turnbull (1867 - 1870), James Harrison (1870 - 1918), John Harrison (1870 - 1936), J&J Harrison

Created:

17 Aug 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

HAR009

Hartlepool

Central Shipbuilding Yard

Hartlepool

Throston

William Gray

Created:

22 Feb 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

NCL008

Tyne

St Anthony's, Lindsay Shipyard

Walker

St Anthonys

John Lindsay (1886 - 1911)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

TWE004

Tweed

Berwick Shipyard

Berwick upon Tweed

Quay Walls

Weatherheads (1950 - 1953), Fairmile Construction Co. Ltd. (1953 - 1972), Intrepid Marine International (1973 - 1979), Tweed Yard Ltd., Coastal Marine Boat Builders

Created:

22 Sept 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SUN001

Wear

Hendon, Medieval Shipyard

Sunderland

Hendon

Thomas Menvill

Created:

8 Mar 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

WQ004

Tyne

Eltringham Shipyard, Will. Quay

Wallsend

Willington Quay

JT Eltringham & Co Ltd (1914 - 1922)

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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