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. Ascertainment of caffeinated beverage and soda consumption. Two ships each were ordered from swan hunter and bae systems naval ships. It was swan hunter which loomed largest of all the great north east shipbuilders and became famous. Also a couple of publictaions by another local man by the name of ken smith i think anyway very good information in these books. The ship in the photograph, matadi palm, was launched in 1970 at swan hunters haverton yard.
Workers in the swan hunter shipyard on tyneside, january 1940 by. The musical was initially inspired by stings 1991 album the soul cages and his own childhood experiences growing up in the shadow of the legendary swan hunter shipyard in wallsend, england. The photograph shows harry hinson, an iron shipwright, standing with a coworker amongst a framework of a ship s girders. At a time when the shipyards of the tyne were still in full swing, thousands clocked on for work as normal on thursday, september 23, 1976. Based in wallsend the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the 20th century. The name of this site is taken from a book and film by writer tom pickard, we make. A smile struggled for life in the hunter s face, as he turned to the wall and took down the skin of a silver fox.
The research team plan to screen the two save our shipyards films at events over the coming weeks where people will have the opportunity to share their memories of the campaign and personal recollections of what the shipbuilding. Swan hunter cranes leave the tyne, ending 145 years of shipbuilding one hundred and fortyfive years of production at swan hunter, one of the worlds most famous shipbuilders, has ended after its. In 1970 ray was foreman shipwright during the building of the above ship. Swan hunter shipbuilding company vintage photography ebay. A collection documenting 200 years of north east shipbuilding has gained global recognition. World unicorn, built by swan hunter at the wallsend shipyard, tyneside in 1973. Image caption the world unicorn vessel ready to launch at swan hunter in 1973. This was a meaningless name which was quickly changed to swan hunter group by november of the same year. Half a dozen amateur photographers had gathered independently, but all with the same aim to capture pictures of the last chapter in the history. Swan hunter by ken smith north east england books at the. He held it on his palm for a moment, looking at it in an interested, satisfied way, then he brought it over and put it into the childs hands. Workers at swan, hunter and wigham richardson ltd shipbuilding.
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 shipbuilding. Family history bookhistory booksnorth shieldstime picturesnorth east englandlocal. After many mergers and takeovers, nationalisation and denationalisation, the swan, hunter name continues in the shipbuilding business today, but the firm now specialises in offshore platform and naval work perhaps the last cableship built by swan hunter was the sir eric sharp, launched in 1988. A unique history of one of the legendary names of british shipbuilding swan hunter supplemented by many eyecatching photographs. Mike adie remembers watching hms illustrious and ark royal being launched from the swan hunter shipyard. Last weeks failure of swan hunter to win a royal navy warship order not only puts the company in the hands of receivers and 7,000 jobs at risk, it effectively ends tynesides shipbuilding. The swan hunter name is synonymous with innovative design and quality and the river tyne shipyards of swan hunter have been the birthplace of. Swan hunter was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the uk. Thomas picken, a plater, directs a crane moving a large sheet of metal.
Hunter, who formed a partnership with the widow of charles. History of tyneside shipbuilding put in focus as photos of. Distinguished history of naval service for more than a century, swan hunter on the tyne was a main builder of british naval vessels, turning out over 200 ships. The photo is taken from a skyscraper west of the yard and facing east. Swan the owner of a wallsend shipbuilding business established in 1852 by charles. As the dismantling began of the oncegreat swan hunter shipyard on the tyne, a group of enthusiasts snapped into action. Its first warship contract in 1909 was for the destroyer hms hope. Stewart j rafert the collection consists of an oral history interview on cassette tape and a typed transcription. 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 swan hunter he. Swan hunter oral history interview, 1978 swan hunter. Ahmanson theatre presents the book of mormon, swan lake. The swan s story is told in a new book by tynemouthbased ian buxton, a naval architect and chartered surveyor, who lectures in marine transport at newcastle university and also happens to be vicepresident of the world ship society. A view of the swan hunter shipyard in wallsend, england in march 2007, a few months after its sale, before the cranes were dismantled. The yard was taken over by a london firm called miller, ravenhill and salkeld but with no better results.
Based in wallsend, tyne and wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century most famously, the rms. A collection of archives documenting 200 years of north east history have. He is shouting directions up to colleagues in the scaffolding. Books go search hello select your address best sellers customer service find a gift. In 1915, the light cruiser comus was the first large warship to be built by swan s. Video of a jib being removed from a crane at the swan hunter shipyard, wallsend. The yards first admiralty order was in 1900 for a floating dock for bermuda. The british shipbuilding industry was largely nationalised by the government in 1977, and swan hunter, with 11,000 employees, became a part of british shipbuilders. Filing history for swan hunter shipbuilders limited 02566372 people for swan hunter shipbuilders limited 02566372 charges for swan hunter shipbuilders limited 02566372 more for swan hunter shipbuilders limited 02566372 registered office address wallsend shipyard, wallsend, tyne and wear, ne28 6eq. Feb 20, 20 workers in the swan hunter shipyard on tyneside, january 1940 by bishop. Caffeinated beverage and soda consumption and time to. Swan hunter, haverton hill 1970 picture stockton archive. Barry tells us about the fall of swan hunters shipbuilders in wallsend. Many warships were built at swan hunter during ww2.
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. It was the fear that future generations would not know about swan hunter and shipbuilding on the river tyne which spurred mike on to set up his website. This website features oral histories, photographs and emails exploring the lives of employees of swan hunter. They are based on the dutchspanish royal schelde enforcer design and intended as a replacement for the round tableclass logistics ships. 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. Funded projects oral history unit and collective newcastle. Remember getting a book about 10 yr ago written by n middlemissfrom north shields all about the history of all the tyne yards had some great pictures and stories in. Workers in the swan hunter shipyard on tyneside, january 1940 by bishop marshall for the daily herald. 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. At swan hunter s neptune yard, more than 500 men were busy putting the finishing touches to the ps23m hms glasgow. Swan hunters worker peter mcfarlane vintage photography. Because my brother worked at swans we used to get tickets for launches with my mum and dad.
We offer solutions for power and telecoms cable, flexible pipelines, umbilicals and other subsea installation projects throughout the world. I finish serving my time just after the launch of the above mentioned ship. Saville street, north shields, may 1937 coronation, george vi family history. Workers at swan, hunter and wigham richardson ltd shipbuilding yard, wallsend, newcastle during the first world war. Swan hunter cranes leave the tyne, ending 145 years of. In this interview stewart rafert questions two miami women about miami culture at the turn of the. One of a series taken to illustrate a dudley barker story on workers in wartime. Own a piece of history with this great photography memorabilia. That was the day i started work at john readhead and sons shipyard in south shields. The collection of photographs, log books and ship plans are now listed on.
Nra 23331 swan hunter see hmc records of british business and industry 17601914 metal processing and engineering, 1994. But by the start of this century, only one yard, swan hunter on the tyne, remained active. Hms albion afloat on the river tyne after launch by swan hunter and. A photograph of workers in the swan hunter shipyard on tyneside, taken in january 1940 by bishop marshall for the daily herald. Tyne and wear shipyard archive get united nations seal. The baseline questionnaire asked women to report beverage intake over the past month, specifically the number of mugs 250 milliliters ml of regular coffee, decaffeinated coffee, regular tea, herbal or green tea, and bottles 500 ml of colas sweetened and diet separately and sodas without caffeine sweetened and. Ships built at swan hunters, wallsend ships nostalgia. The bay class is a ship class of four dock landing ships built for the british royal fleet auxiliary rfa during the 2000s. Barrys story will be part of a new qr code trail of culture shock digital stories at. The rush home as workers finish their shift at swan hunter shipyard in wallsend 29 november 1977. Ship name d h p yard 1 1969 atlantic causeway d h p walker 2 1970 atlantic conveyor d h p walker 3 1970 esso northumbria d h p wallsend 4 1970 esso hibernia d h p wallsend 5 1971 texaco great britain d h p wallsend 6 1969 green rover d h p hebburn 7 1970 grey rover d h p hebburn 8 1970 blue rover d h p hebburn. Shipyard workers north shields, the last ship, national.
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