The shipyard survived until 1993, then trading as swan hunter, when it was forced to call in the receivers after the uk government awarded the contract for hms ocean to vickers shipbuilding and engineering ltd in barrow in furness for a cut down price, which later turned out to be artificial. Swan hunter shipyard, tyneside signed limited edition. The behind the scenes open day at the iconic swan hunter shipyard will take place on friday, september 30. Hunter, who formed a partnership with the widow of charles. I am currently compiling a website of the dismantling of the cranes at swan hunter shipyard in wallsend. Hms albion afloat on the river tyne after launch by swan hunter and.
This was a meaningless name which was quickly changed to swan hunter group by november of the same year 1967 the geddes report recommended the rationalisation of tyneside. The whole story of the tynes most famous shipyard is told with illustrations from the official swan hunter archive, pictures from the shipyard magazine and memories from the workers. Fears for tyneside tradition as swan hunter ship is towed. A view of the swan hunter shipyard in wallsend, england in march 2007, a few months after its sale, before the cranes were dismantled. Swan hunter by ken smith north east england books at the. Pages in category ships built by swan hunter the following 152 pages are in this category, out of 152 total. Among the long list of famous vessels created at the shipyard are the.
The history of one of the northeast of englands best known shipyards is being celebrated in an exhibition. An oxygen valve in a badly ventilated part of hms glasgow, then under construction, had been left open. In mid2006, swan hunter was stripped of work, and the incomplete second ship was towed to baes shipyard for completion. Family history bookhistory booksnorth shieldstime picturesnorth east englandlocal. Whilst under cover, work is being carried out on patrol vessels of the ghananian navy. This website features oral histories, photographs and emails exploring the lives of employees of swan hunter. Ships built at swan hunters, wallsend ships nostalgia. Eight men were killed and six injured in one of britains worst shipyard disasters. The set has been produced to celebrate sunderland history fair on 7 june 2014.
Saville street, north shields, may 1937 coronation, george vi family history. Swan hunter cranes leave the tyne, ending 145 years of. History of tyneside shipbuilding put in focus as photos of. The pride and the tears first edition by ian rae, ken smith isbn. Apr 06, 2009 swan hunter was one of the best known shipbuilders in britain and the world. Media in category ships built at swan hunter wallsend the following 23 files are in this category, out of 23 total. World unicorn, built by swan hunter at the wallsend shipyard, tyneside in 1973. Our equipment pool includes basket carousels, reel carousels, reel drive systems, reels, tensioners, chutes, under roller drive systems, turntables and other ancillary installation equipment. R v swan hunter shipbuilder and telemeter installations ltd. The shipyard was bought out of receivership by jaap kroese. The tale is told from the 1860s to the new millennium as the phoenix of the new swan hunter rises from the ashes of.
See more ideas about north shields, the last ship and newcastle. Continuing the wellrespected style of the glory days series, this cracking new book beautifully explores the turbulent history of swan hunter through the 20th century. The top secret guided missile destroyer hms glasgow one of three ultrasophisticated type 42 warships built on the tyne was being fitted out at swan hunters neptune yard at wallsend. Workers from at swan hunter shipbuilders in wallsend leave after a shift. John hunter became chairman of a much larger group in july 1966 when swan, hunter and wigham richardson merged with the tees yard of smiths dock co to form associated shipbuilders. Workers at swan, hunter and wigham richardson ltd shipbuilding.
Swan hunter ne, which dates back to 1860, built, repaired, and converted ships at its wallsend shipyard on the tyne river and its port clarence yard on the tees river. R v swan hunter shipbuilder safetyphoto safety photo. The company was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world but ceased shipbuilding operations on tyneside in 2006. Feb 20, 20 workers in the swan hunter shipyard on tyneside, january 1940 by bishop.
Apr 09, 2009 mike adie remembers watching hms illustrious and ark royal being launched from the swan hunter shipyard. The top secret guided missile destroyer hms glasgow one of three ultrasophisticated type 42 warships built on the tyne was being fitted out at swan hunter s neptune yard at wallsend. Construction work started in 2002, but saw major delays and cost overruns, particularly at swan hunters shipyard. Swan hunter was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the uk. This painting depicts the swan hunter wallsend shipyard on the river tyne in 1988. Swan hunter built warships hardcover october 5, 2007 by ian buxton author 5. In april 2007, swan hunters cranes, along with its floating dock and other equipment, were sold to bharati shipyards, indias second largest private sector shipbuilder. We offer solutions for power and telecoms cable, flexible pipelines, umbilicals and other subsea installation projects throughout the world. Based at the neptune works, newcastle upon tyne, swan, hunter. Symptomatic of the decline of the regions loss of heavy industry, the closure of the yard meant the loss of one of the greatest names in british shipbuilding history.
Swan hunter by ken smith north east england books at the works. The photo is taken from a skyscraper west of the yard and facing east. The rush home as workers finish their shift at swan hunter shipyard in wallsend 29 november 1977. This was a meaningless name which was quickly changed to swan hunter group by november of the same year. A unique history of one of the legendary names of british shipbuilding swan hunter supplemented by many eyecatching photographs. R v swan hunter shipbuilder and telemeter installations ltd 1982 irer 403. In mid2006, swan hunter was stripped of work, and the incomplete second ship was towed to. The whole story of the tynes most famous shipyard, builder of the world class mauretania, and carpathia the ship which rescued titanics survivors, is told with illustrations from the official swan hunter archive, pictures from the shipyard magazine, memories from the workers. The former swan hunter shipyards barry, who is a member of wallsend history society, began taking pictures because he felt that little was happening to document the last years of. Workers in the swan hunter shipyard on tyneside, january 1940 by. Swan hunter shipyard, tyneside signed limited edition print. Swan hunter was one of the best known shipbuilders in britain and the world. Dec 16, 2009 the history of one of the northeast of englands best known shipyards is being celebrated in an exhibition. See more ideas about river tees, river and middlesbrough.
Two ships each were ordered from swan hunter and bae systems naval ships. Mike adie remembers watching hms illustrious and ark royal being launched from the swan hunter shipyard. The launch by palmers yard just across the river from swan hunter of the john bowes in 1852 marked a turning point from wooden to iron cargo vesels. Nov 29, 2017 the rush home as workers finish their shift at swan hunter shipyard in wallsend 29 november 1977. On the left is hms marlborough a type 23 frigate near completion.
Based in wallsend the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the 20th century. Based in wallsend, tyne and wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century most famously. Veolia is due to finish its work in the shipyard towards the end of november and plan to leave nothing behind apart from some concrete. Construction work started in 2002, but saw major delays and cost overruns, particularly at swan hunter s shipyard. Swan hunter s history reaches back to the 1860s but the company gained prominence in the early 1900s for building the mauretania. Swan and hunter merged with wigham richardson and tyne pontoons and dry docks co specifically to bid for the prestigious contract to build the mauretania for cunard. Anyone who has pictures and would like to donate them to this site please contact me. For 22 years, the ship held the blue riband for the fastest. Because my brother worked at swans we used to get tickets for launches with my mum and dad. Historic old pictures of goole shipyard showing the workshop, shipyard workers and goole ship launches.
Swan hunters history reaches back to the 1860s but the company gained prominence in the early 1900s for building the mauretania. A collection of archives documenting 200 years of north east history have. As part of the site i am sourcing photos and movies of ships that were once built at swan hunters in excess of 1600 ships were built of which 400 were naval vessels in the yards years existence. Also people with an interest in local history may want to see what we are doing. Swan hunter provide a rental fleet of offshore installation equipment for flexible pipelines, umbilicals, and power cables. Swan the owner of a wallsend shipbuilding business established in 1852 by charles. Available as high quality photographic prints or digital images. Nra 23331 swan hunter see hmc records of british business and industry 17601914 metal processing and engineering, 1994. Eight decades of realpolitik herman j cohens latest book.
In addition, swan hunter group ltd of which swan hunter shipbuilders was a whollyowned subsidiary, owned the shipyard operated by smiths dock co ltd on the tees and shipyards building smaller ships, i. Watch the lima jacket topple as veolia environmental services is decommissioning a gas rig at swan hunter, wallsend in newcastle. This website features oral histories, photographs and emails exploring. John worked at the swan hunter shipyard on the river tyne for 25 years, first as a boy distributing the mail around the yard and then from the age of 20 as a crane driver. Miss robson worked at swan hunter for many years and was secretary to ian pike, the shipbuilding manager in charge of the sir eric sharp during its construction at the wallsend shipyard. Their bid was successful, and the new company, swan, hunter and wigham richardson, went on to build what was to become, in its day, the most famous ocean going liner in the world. The show was inspired by his 1991 solo album, the soul cages, and it deals with his childhood growing up near the swan hunter shipyard in wallsend, england. The whole story of the tynes most famous shipyard is told with illustrations from the official swan hunter archive, pictures from the shipyard. Gas rig toppling at the swan hunter shipyard in newcastle. The swan hunter shipyard in wallsend was not only a major employer in the region but also became a landmark, with its iconic cranes shaping the skyline. It was swan hunter which loomed largest of all the great north east shipbuilders and became famous. Many warships were built at swan hunter during ww2. The collection of photographs, log books and ship plans are now listed on. The yard, and others on the tyne, were still in full swing at the time but under pressure from shrinking order books and cheap foreign competition.
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