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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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SS015

Tyne

West Docks, Readhead Yard

South Shields

West Docks

John Readhead & Co. (1880 - 1968), Swan Hunter (1968 - 1982)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

GD008

Tyne

Engine & Gearbox Exchange Ltd

Gateshead

Dunston

Engine & Gearbox Exchange Ltd.

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SUN028

Wear

Bridge Dock

Sunderland

Monkwearmouth

John Laing, Philip Laing (1804 - 1818), George Hall (1822 - 1862), James Hall (1822 - 1831), George Peverall (1863 - 1866), Robert Thompson & Sons (1881 - 1933), Wear Commissioners (1936)

Created:

30 Apr 2025

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

WLK001

Tyne

Battle Hill, Shipyard

Walker

Walker

John Coutts (1842 - 1848), Miller, Ravenhill & Salkeld (1851 - 1855), Vernon?

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SUN014

Wear

North Dock, Blumer Shipyard

Sunderland

Monkwearmouth

George Booth, John Blakelock, John Blumer & Co. Ltd., Robert Pace, Colonel Arthur Robson

Created:

7 Jun 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

BLY006

Blyth

High Pans, Shipyard

North Blyth

High Pans

Henry Debord (1798 - 1813)

Created:

17 Jul 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

WAL003

Tyne

Swan Hunter (Coulson & Co) Shipyard

Wallsend

Wallsend

Coulson, Cooke & Co (1873 - 1874), John Coulson & Co (1876 - 1879), Swan Hunter (1896 - 2007)

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

JW003

Tyne

Jarrow Quay Corner, Slipway

Jarrow

Jarrow

Thomas & Robert Brown (1813 - 1833), Drewett Brown

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

JW004

Tyne

Temple Shipyard

Jarrow

Jarrow

Simon Temple Jnr (1806 - 1813) William Smoult Temple

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

JW001

Tyne

Palmers Shipbuilding Works

Jarrow

Jarrow

Palmers Shipbuilding & Iron Co. Ltd. (1852 - 1933) Palmers Hebburn Co. Ltd. (1934 - 1973) National Shipbuilders Security Ltd.

Created:

9 Jun 2023

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

SUN021

Wear

Doxford Shipyard (East)

Sunderland

Pallion

William Doxford, William Doxford & Sons Ltd., Northumberland Shipbuilding Co., Sperling Group, Doxford & Sunderland Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd, Sunderland Shipbuilders Ltd, British Shipbuilders Ltd

Created:

27 Nov 2024

Updated:

12 Jun 2025

WLK005

Tyne

Neptune Yard

Walker

Walker

John Wigham Richardson Ltd. (1861 - 1903), Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Ltd. (1903 - 1963), Swan Hunter Ltd. (-1986)

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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