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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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PLW001

Tyne

Morris Shipyard

Hebburn

Pelaw Main

John Morris & David Morris (1847 - 1921)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

GD010

Tyne

Hillgate Quay, Shipyard

Gateshead

South Shore

Henry Forster

Created:

15 Aug 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SUN011

Wear

Bartram & Sons, South Dock Shipyard

Sunderland

Sunderland

Arthur Iliff, John Mounsey, Iliff & Mounsey & Co. (1866 - 1873), Robert Appleby Bartram, George Haswell (Bartram, Haswell & Co.), George Bartram, William Bartram (Bartram & Sons), Austin and Pickersgill (A&P)

Created:

22 May 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SUN027

Wear

Deptford North Shipyard

Sunderland

Deptford

James Johnson (1815 - 1834)

Created:

2 Apr 2025

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SEA001

Seaham

Paxton Taylor & Co Shipyard

Seaham

Thomas Stonehouse (1831 - 1832), Paxton Taylor (1831 - 1836)

Created:

12 Oct 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

HAR004

Hartlepool

Blumer Shipyard

Hartlepool

Middleton

Luke Blumer, George Blumer, Madge Blumer, Withy Alexander

Created:

12 Dec 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

GD004

Tyne

Anderson's Slipway

Felling

Friars Goose

Archibald Irwin, Robert Fairs (1847 - 1895), Tyne Wherry Co. (1901), John Anderson, T Mitchinson Ltd. (1955 - 1963), James Burness & Sons

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SUN013

Wear

North Shore, Bell's Shipyard

Sunderland

Monkwearmouth

James Bell, James Leithead (1834 - 1844)

Created:

7 Jun 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SWI006

Wear

Southwick, Leithead Shipyard

Sunderland

Southwick

Andrew Leithead

Created:

4 Jun 2025

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SS007

Tyne

Middle Docks

South Shields

Holborn

George Smith, Mr Dalton, Banks & Liddle, Richard Bulmer, James Hall, William Stoveld, Middle Dock Company, The Middle Dock and Engineering Company Ltd., British Shipbuilders

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SS005

Tyne

Winlo Yard

South Shields

South Shields

John Winlo, Peter Winlo

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

NS001

Tyne

Low Lights Shipyard

North Shields

North Shields

John Hearn, James Dunn Burdis (1860 - 1870), Richard Wouldhave & William Johnson (1875 - 1885)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

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

Historic Maps provided by

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