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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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HAR006

Hartlepool

Jackson Dock, Shipyard

Hartlepool

West Hartlepool

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

Created:

8 Jan 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SS003

Tyne

Pilot Street, Shipbuilding Yard

South Shields

South Shields

Robert, Thomas & John Wallis (1720 - 1869), Nicholson & Horn (1790-1811) G. Rennoldson, JP Rennoldson & Sons (1863-1926)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

WLK008

Tyne

St Anthony's, Slipway

Newcastle

St Anthonys

Unknown

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

GD007

Tyne

Dunston, Slipways

Gateshead

Dunston

Thomas Sadler (1824) Dunston Shipbuilding Co. (1883 - 1890)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

COQ01

Coquet

Amble Shipyard

Amble

Amble

Amble Ferro Concrete Co Ltd. (1918 - 1920), Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Company, Amble Shipbuilding Co Ltd. (1920 - 1926)

Created:

10 Aug 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

NCL006

Tyne

St Peter's, Smith's Dock

Newcastle

St Peters

William Rowe (1756 - 1810), Thomas & William Smith (1810 - 1861), Tyne Iron Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. (1862 - 1866), R&W Hawthorn

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SUN005

Wear

Low Street, Alcock Shipyard

Sunderland

Sunderland

James Leithead, Andrew Leithead (1827 - 1834) John Thomas Alcock, Charles Alcock, Robert Hutton Potts

Created:

24 Mar 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SUN003

Wear

Wear Dockyard

Sunderland

Bishopwearmouth

William Adamson, Peter Austin, Samuel Peter Austin (SP Austin & Son), Austin and Pickersgill

Created:

12 Mar 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

BQU001

Tyne

Bill Quay, Wood Skinner Yard

Gateshead

Bill Quay

Wood, Skinner & Co Ltd. (1885 - 1925)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SS019

Tyne

Corstorphine Town, Boatbuilding Works

South Shields

South Shields

Robson (Boat Builders) Ltd

Created:

18 Jan 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

bidd01

Wear

South Biddick Shipyard

Sunderland

Washington

Thomas Lanchester

Created:

22 May 2025

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SUN010

Wear

North Sands Shipyard

Sunderland

Monkwearmouth

John Laing & David Laing (1792 - 1805), John Hutchinson (1809 - 1815), John Brown (1809 - 1812), James Crone (1812 - 1825), Frank Oliver & John Harrison (1830 - 1835), William Barklay & Co. (1860 - 1868)

Created:

26 Apr 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

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

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