TYNE TUGS AND TUG BUILDERS
A history of Tyne Tugs, their builders and owners

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Above: Select the required shipyard by using the initial letter of the Surname eg: Eltringham, Hepple or Rennoldson.
KEY BELOW: D / H / P (D = basic dimensions are shown; H = a history is given; P = one or more photographs are available)

Hepple & Landells, North Shields

Hepple & Landells, Low Walker

Thomas Hepple had a millwright’s business at Mitford, Northumberland and came to Coble Dene, North Shields, where he set up in partnership with Richard Landells in the early 1850s. They devoted much of their attention to the building of tug boat engines and then to tug boats themselves. In 1857 they established another shipbuilding & engineering yard at Low Walker, again focusing on tug and tug engine production. The partnership split up in 1861 and the two shipbuilders went their separate ways. Landells kept the North Shields yard and Hepple the Low Walker yard. Thomas’ son William then became the manager of the Low Walker facility.

The following tugs were built at North Shields

Yd No Year Ship Name D / H / P
1851 Britannia D / H
1852 Britannia D / H
1855 Carrs D / H
1855 Maid of Orleans D / H
1856 Expert D / H
1856 Powerful D / H
1856 Ursa Major D / H
1857 Britannia D / H
1857 Fury D / H
1857 Gem D / H
1857 Heather Bell D / H / P
1857 Restless D / H
1857 Water Lily D / H
1858 Champion D / H
1858 Pleiades D / H
1858 Vanguard D / H
1859 Gem D / H
1859 Hecla D / H
1859 John Usher D / H
1859 Pioneer D / H
1859 Tweed D / H / P
1859 Victoria D / H
1860 Blue Jacket D / H
1860 Wave of Life D / H
1861 Heather Bell D / H / P
1861 Mariner D / H
1861 Northern Light D / H
1861 Pioneer D / H
1861 Tartar D / H
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The following tugs were built at Low Walker

Yd No Year Ship Name D / H / P
1857 Rob Roy D / H
1858 Bon Accord D / H
1858 Gleaner D / H
1858 Sir Colin Campbell D / H
1858 Venture D / H
1859 Cowen D / H
1859 Pilots D / H
1859 Rosamond D / H / P
1859 Spring Flower D / H
1860 Derwent D / H
1860 Gratitude D / H
1860 Hecla D / H
1860 Sea Flower D / H
1860 Wearmouth D / H / P
1861 Belmont D / H
1861 Briton D / H
1861 Diamond D / H
1861 Moselle D / H / P
1861 Norfolk Hero D / H
1861 North Star D / H
1861 Prince of Wales D / H / P
1861 Rover D / H
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