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.
Mauretania Construction c.1906.
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 c.1906.
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.
Mauretania Construction c.1906.
Photo courtesy of Beamish Collection.
Assembly Shop 1905.
General view of the Assembly Shop at Wallsend Slipway and Engineering Co (became Swan Hunters). From album from The Wallsend Slipway and Engineering Co No 3. 1905.
Mauretania Construction c.1906.
Stern of the SS Mauretania on the slipway at Swan Hunters shipyard, Wallsend, c. 1906. From the G.L. Drury Collection - Chief Electrical Engineer for NER.
Photo courtesy of Beamish Collection.
Mauretania Launch c.1906.
Launch of the SS Mauretania from the slipway at Swan Hunters shipyard, Wallsend, c1906. From the G.L. Drury Collection - Chief Electrical Engineer for NER.
Photo courtesy of Beamish Collection.
Mauretania Construction c.1906.
View along lifeboat deck of SS Mauretania at Swan Hunters shipyard, Wallsend, c1906. From the G.L. Drury Collection - Chief Electrical Engineer for NER.
Photo courtesy of Beamish Collection.
A floating dock under construction. January 1961.
Photo courtesy of Beamish Collection.
Ship No 1785 on stocks. February 1950.
Photo courtesy of Beamish Collection.
Dagland launch. July 1952
Dagland going down the ways during launch in July 1952.
Photo courtesy of Beamish Collection.
More old photos on this site:
- Armstrong Bridge & Craft Fair
- Bath Lane
- Byker
- Byker - Shields Road
- Construction of the Tyne & Wear Metro
- Construction of the Tyne Pedestrian and Cyclist Tunnels
- Grainger Market, The
- Grubb Parsons Telescopes
- Heaton
- Mayfair Ballroom, The
- Newcastle in 1970's by John Fox
- Newcastle in the 1800's
- Newcastle Shops of the 1940s
- Newcastle University
- North Shields Fish Quay
- Odeon/Paramount Cinema
- Reader Submitted Old Photos
- Shipbuilding on the River Tyne, 1960-1977
- Swan Hunters - HMS Ark Royal under construction
- Swan Hunters - RMS Mauretania
- Town Moor - The Hoppings
