Harrisons Slipway
While on a wander around the Bill Quay area I found this old and unused slipway which was part of R B Harrison and Sons one of the smaller shipyards/ship repair on the River Tyne. I believe it closed in the 1990's some time but that's just about all I know about it I'm afraid. If anyone has any information on the place please let me know.
EDIT: A reader called Elizabeth Fawcett sent me the following information about the yard.
I have been looking at the photo's of Robert Harrison's Shipyard. My nanna told me her Father, Philip Brown (b1852), was a friend of Bobby Harrison. She said Bobby had the money to buy the yard but not the knowledge so Philip Brown provided that. Bobby provided 2 Cottages for the Family called Riverside, or on different documents Whie Cottage and Rose Cottage.
I have been looking for photographs. Philip Brown was a Ships Carpenter. The came from St Anthonys to start with. He died in 1914 at the Cottages his wife Sarah died 3 weeks after him. Hope this helps. If you have any information on the Cottages I would be grateful.
If anyone can help us out with more information please get in touch.
r.jpg "Harrisons Slipway")
r.jpg "Harrisons Slipway")
r.jpg "Harrisons Slipway")
r.jpg "Harrisons Slipway")
r.jpg "Harrisons Slipway")
r.jpg "Harrisons Slipway")
r.jpg "Harrisons Slipway")
r.jpg "Harrisons Slipway")
More information:
- Harrisons Slipway, Bill Quay, c1910
- Harrisons Shipyard, Bill Quay, 1980
- Some newspaper clippings featuring the yard. Scroll to almost the bottom of the page.
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4 comments:
Hello outstanding collator of info on Tyneside photos !!
Re R.B.Harrison (Bill Quay)slipway:
some info given in "Lost Shipyards of the Tyne" page 83 (Book available from Newcastle Libraries)
i have more detail on R.B.H. in my unpublished "Yard Biographies" here at home... email me at
Best regards. Ron French.
Thanks. I'll check the book out.
You did'nt leave an email address though.
Hello, what fascinating site I found when looking up the Keelmens Hospital and seeing R.B.Harrisons Bill Quay also. I worked in the office of RBH in the early 60s, typing accounts etc. attending the switchboard and using an ancient Gestetner for copying job lists. RBH repaired tugs (incl. a paddle tug)and fishing vessels. There were four other men in the office apart from Mr. Stan Rooke the Manager. I used to use a loudhailer to call the workman up for telephone calls and one day I thought one of the men I could see from the office window in a brown overall was bending over and ignoring my call when Mr. Frank Knight, office manager, said "that's a brown ceramic pipe" - office hysteria prevailed. Regards - L. Armstrong.
Hello and thanks for your kind words.
Thanks also for the information about the yard and the funny story. :)
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