Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", is one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the United Kingdom. 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 Mauretania which held the Blue Riband for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic, and the RMS Carpathia which rescued the survivors from the RMS Titanic.
As the name suggests, the company represented the combined forces of three powerful shipbuilding families: Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson.
Swan & Hunter was formed in 1880. In 1903, it merged with Wigham Richardson (founded by John Wigham Richardson as Neptune Works in 1860), specifically to bid for the prestigious contract to build the Mauretania on behalf of Cunard. Their bid was successful, and the new company, Swan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd, went on to build what was to become, in its day, the most famous ocean going liner in the world. RMS Mauretania was launched from Wallsend on Tyne on 20th September 1906 to the cheers of huge crowds. She left service in 1935.
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. The final cost of the ship was more than £50 million in excess of Swan Hunter's quoted tender. The ship has been dogged with problems ever since as the UK government failed to recognise the depth of expertise within Swan Hunter.
Swan Hunter once owned the Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Company, which built the engines for some of its greatest ships. The company was an early manufacturer of Charles Algernon Parsons turbine engines, which enabled the Mauretania to achieve its great speed.
The current flagship of the Royal Navy, HMS Ark Royal was built at Swan Hunter, entering service in 1985.
Description courtesy of Wikipedia.
30th April 2022
The last remnants of the Swan Hunters shipyard are currently being demolished.
9th September 2020
12th February 2014
4th June 2010
The last Swan Hunter's cranes are demolished. June 2010.
5th May 2010
2nd April 2009
Taken just before the demolished cranes leave for India.
12th December 2008
11th December 2008
19th November 2008
2nd November 2008
23rd September 2008
23rd May 2008
8th May 2008
5th March 2008
May 2007
Dismantling of a crane at Swans.
26th April 2007
16th August 2006
10th May 2006
1st May 2006
More Information:
- Wikipedia - Swan Hunter
- Co-Curate - Swan Hunter
- 28 Days Later - Swan Hunter Shipbuilding, Wallsend
- Amber Online - The building of the Mauretania
- Peter Loud - Shipbuilding On Tyneside
- BBC Tyne - Remembering Swan Hunter
- Monkchester - Dismantling of Swan Hunter
See my other photos around Wallsend:
- Wallsend Burn
- Wallsend - Burn Closes Bridge
- Wallsend - Carville Pub Fire and Demolition
- Wallsend - Church Bank Cemetery
- Wallsend High Street
- Wallsend - Holy Cross Cemetery
- Wallsend - Holy Cross Church Remains
- Wallsend - St Peters Church
- Wallsend Parks - Civic Hall Grounds
- Wallsend Parks - The Arboretum
- Wallsend Parks - Richardson Dees Park
- Wallsend - Willington Gut
- Old Photos - Shipbuilding on the Tyne, 1960-1977
- Old Photos - Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Shipyard, Wallsend
- Old Photos - Swan Hunters - HMS Ark Royal construction
- Old Photos - Swan Hunters - RMS Mauretania
11 comments:
It's sad to see it like that.
My Granddads, Uncles and Father, all worked in the yards. I thought I would have too, but it was starting to be closed down when I was leaving school back in the 80's.
Yeh' I know what you mean. I was born within a couple of hundred yards of the place and my old man worked there for many years too.
Since my last visit most of the sheds have gone and the place seems eerie.
Ihave fond memories of The Shipyards of Swan Hunters,i worked for an outside contracter fitting sonar domes to naval ships in the large dry dock.We had our lunch in the big canteen very day,i was only a nipper at the time and working away fropm home a month at a time and it was a welcome relief to have a hot cooked meal instead of living on takeaways.On my last trip to Swans they had just lost the contract to build the navys lataest assault ship, this must of been approx 1992, and this virtually signed the death warrant for Swans, atleast that was the opinion that i got from all the workers in the yard at the time.
I was sure that we would not be returning to Swans ,and i was right.
I still have my red Swan Hunters safety hat,and wear it at work when i need to, must be worth a few bob now.It is very sad to see the demolition pics on this sight.The sweat of so many generations of men shoulld not be forgotten,is there a plaque of some sort to remember the great days of the ship builders that were Swans.
Bigtay
Thanks for the memories.
I'm sure a token plaque will be placed on the site when it is regenerated but I don't remember seeing anything like that at the moment.
That is a very nice collection of photos of Swan Hunters in it's final days, and as such a pretty important archive, thankyou for that.
However time moves on and there are signs of a revival of industry on the Tyne.
There is the wind turbine factory being built on the Neptune site - as photographed elswhere on this website.
And along the river a work is starting on a major offshore order which will see the Hadrian yard take on 1000 workers.
You can never keep the Tyne down for long !
And even old Swans is soon to see some new activity with oil rig recycling work being brought there.
Not quite the Supertankers and Aircraft carriers builds of the past but better than nothing !
Thanks.
It's great to see the old sites coming back to life again.
Hi I was born in Hunter st 1941 have been in Austraila since 1962 visited wallsend sept 2011 very sad that ther was nothing left to see of the old street in fact it has all changed all my memories of the area have gone it seems that it was never there but of those that lived there how can we forget the mad rush of men running up Swans bank at 5.15 pm I well rember it as I used to stsnd there selling the evening chronicle for a penny happney great memories thank you for your great site these are the thing that keep ex pats going thanks again Arthur Reed in Whyalla sth Australia
Thanks. Did you also see this page RMS Mauretania at Swan Hunters?
Hi Samson, It was a grate place in its day, a lot of good men and their families worked at Swans and other yards on the Tyne, Lots of ships big and small, its hard to think its gone, good luck to all who worked there.
Hello all,
I am trying to get the lyrics of "Taking on men" by Jez Lowe. Great song... about the shipyards.
about 40 seconds in he sings about "from ???swan shouts??? to Neptune". Neptune I think is Neptune yard but for the life of me I cannot place the first word. Does anyone have a clue?
Can be listened to here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hByIrvn1zMs
Thank you in advance!
I served my time at Swans during the supertanker era,sad to see it gone.Went back during the Solitaire period,it was sad to see it mostly mothballed then.
Haven't been back to geordieland for around 20 yrs now as I have lived in Australia for the last 36 yrs.
Must be due a visit to home for a bottle of broon
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