Photographs Of Newcastle: Old Photos of Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson Shipyard, Wallsend

Swan Hunter, formerly known as Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, is a shipbuilding design, engineering, and management company, based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, England.

At its apex, the company represented the combined forces of three powerful shipbuilding families: Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson.

The company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century, most famously RMS Mauretania which held the Blue Riband for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic, and RMS Carpathia which rescued survivors from RMS Titanic.

In 2006 Swan Hunter ceased vessel construction on Tyneside, but continues to provide design engineering services.

More information at Wikipedia: Swan Hunters Shipyard.

January 1961

A floating dock under construction.

Photo courtesy of Beamish Collection.

July 1952

Dagland launch.

Dagland going down the ways during launch.

Photo courtesy of Beamish Collection.

1950

Ship No 1785 on stocks.

Photo courtesy of Beamish Collection.

1906

Mauretania Construction

A view looking forward from the aft end of the engine room during the building of the Mauretania. The vessel was built for the Cunard Steamship Co. in 1905/7 by Swan Hunter of Wallsend and launched from the Tyne in 1906.

The photograph is taken from "Q.T.S.S. MAURETANIA", The Shipbuilding Souvenir.

Photo courtesy of Beamish Collection.

Mauretania Construction.

The Low Pressure (L.P.) Rotor fully bladed - a component part of a turbine of the Mauretania. The vessel was built for the Cunard Steamship Co. in 1905/7 by Swan Hunter of Wallsend and launched from the Tyne in 1906.

The photograph was taken from Q.T.S.S. Mauretania', The Shipbuilder, Souvenir Number 1907 Figure 73.

Photo courtesy of Beamish Collection.