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)

Shipbuilder: TD Marshall, South Shields

Shipbuilder: Marshall Brothers, Willington Quay

Thomas Dunn Marshall was born in Woodhorn, Northumberland in 1804 and started with a general smith's business in South Shields. He extended into marine engines for small craft such as tugs and finally in 1830, into shipbuilding. It is claimed that he built the first iron paddle-steamer to be launched into the Tyne - the STAR, but this is a very debateable point.

The yard was part of the old Robert Wallis yard below the headland known as the Lawe Top at South Shields. This was one of the oldest recorded shipbuilding sites on the south bank of the Tyne. By 1852 the Census shows him as having a wife, 2 sons and 2 daughters. He is described as an engineer employing 100 men. Marshall also built the world's first steam collier, the BEDLINGTON, completed in 1842. Between 1842 and 1859, when TD Marshall retired, the firm had built 10 wooden and 99 iron vessels.

His sons succeeded him in business and brought about significant changes. The existing yard had become too small, so the shipbuilding department was moved to Willington Quay in 1861. At this new yard the head of the firm RJ Marshall employed John Softley as his Manager and John Readhead as his Chief Engineer. The Willington yard closed in 1868.

The marine engine-building remained in South Shields eventually becoming Messrs Marshall, Osborne and Company and finally Messrs Sanderson Bros.

The following tugs were built by the Marshall companies

Yd No Year Ship Name D / H / P
1842 Matador D / H
1843 Die Oder D / H
1848 Samson D / H
1849 Powerful D / H
1850 Purbeck D / H
1850 Tartar D / H
1851 Black Eagle D / H
1851 Lioness D / H / P
1852 Swan D / H
1853 Ada D / H
1853 Ocean Bride D / H
1853 Superb D / H
1854 Eclat D / H
1854 Powerful D / H
1854 Wonder D / H / P
1855 Britannia D / H
1855 Liffey D / H
1855 Marquis D / H
1855 Pelissier D / H
1856 Defiance D / H
1856 Fire King D / H
1856 Lion D / H
1856 Marshall
1856 Nieuw Sluis
1856 Protector D / H
1856 United States D / H
1856 Victoria Dock D / H
1857 Duji D / H
1857 Fame D / H / P
1857 Neptune D / H
1857 Pilot D / H
1857 Sailor King D / H
1857 Samson D / H
1857 Storm King D / H
1857 Wonder D / H
1858 Ely D / H
1858 Lioness D / H
1859 Pioneer D / H / P
1859 T D Marshall D / H
1860 Contest D / H
1860 Emperor D / H
1861 Flying Dutchman D / H
1861 Talbot D / H
1862 Royal Arch D / H / P
1862 Victoria D / H
1863 Bob Chambers D / H
1863 Dandy D / H
1863 Great Emperor D / H
1863 Prince Alfred D / H
1863 Tiger D / H
1863 Warrior D / H
1864 Conqueror D / H
1864 Great Emperor D / H
1864 Prince Arthur D / H
1864 Tiger D / H
142 1865 Atlas D / H
143 1865 Mercury D / H
1867 Flying Dutchman D / H
1867 Gannet D / H
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