Thanks to the wonderful Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums we have the means to look into South Shields’ shipbuilding history.
And John Readhead & Sons plays a massive part in that history. The company was opened in 1865 after shipyard manager, John Readhead, entered into business with J Softley at a small yard on the Lawe at South Shields. In 1872 the partnership was dissolved and John continued alone on the same site until 1880 before moving to the bigger, High West Yard site.
In 1968 the company was absorbed by the Swan Hunter Group and in 1977 came to be part of the nationalised British Shipbuilders.
But in the same year the last vessel was launched and the site was sold off in 1984.
From 1865 to 1968, 600 ships were built by Readhead in South Shields. The firm built vessels, which were involved in the major conflicts of the Twentieth Century. During the First World War they built patrol vessels and ‘x’ lighters (motor landing craft used in the Gallipoli campaign) for the Admiralty. During the Second World War the firm built tankers for the Normandy Landings.
1. Young guests at the launch of the cargo ship 'Empire Crown'
Three young boys attending the launch of 'Empire Crown' at the shipyard of John Readhead & Sons Ltd, South Shields, 16 October 1943
2. Conjurer entertaining children
View of a children’s party following the launch of the bulk carrier ‘Gloxinia’, 20 February 1958 (TWAM ref. DS.RDD/4/21/3). The vessel was launched by Dorothy Anne Robinson, daughter of Nicholas J. Robinson, a director of the Stag Line.
3. Launch of the cargo ship 'Empire Fawley'
View of the cargo ship 'Empire Fawley' afloat on the River Tyne after her launch at the shipyard of John Readhead & Sons Ltd, South Shields, 25 April 1945
4. Launch of the cargo ship 'Alexandros'
View of the cargo ship 'Alexandros' as she is launched at the shipyard of John Readhead & Sons Ltd, South Shields, 11 November 1958