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: John Readhead & Co

Shipbuilder: J Readhead & Sons

John Readhead & Co; 1872 - 1888
John Readhead & Sons; 1888 - 1909
John Readhead & Sons Ltd; 1909 - 1968

John Readhead was born in 1819 in Northumberland and served his appenticeship as a millwright at Earsdon Colliery. He then worked as a millwright at Thomas Marshall's shipyard in South Shields from 1842 to 1858. He married Susannah Richardson of South Shields and they had four sons and a daughter. John was appointed a manager in 1859 at Marshall's new shipbuilding base at Willington Quay, but then left in 1865 to set up his own yard at the Lawe in South Shields. At this time he was in partnership with John Softley and operated as Readhead, Softley & Co. (See separate section).

After the partnership was dissolved in 1872 John continued operations at the Lawe but space was at a premium and the orders were growing. In 1880 he bought a site at West Docks, South Shields, adjacent to Tyne Dock. The new yard had 1,000ft of river frontage and space for three berths, later increased to four.

Readhead's yard went on to establish an excellent reputation, particularly for small cargo steamers, but they also had their own engine and boiler making departments. John was very much aided by his four sons who were active members of the management team and this was reflected in the change of name to "& Sons" in 1888.

In 1968 the yard was absorbed into the Swan Hunter Group which itself was nationalised as part of British Shipbuilders in 1978. The yard eventually closed in 1982, by which time the company had built nearly 600 vessels.


The following tugs were built by John Readhead & Co:

Yd No Year Ship Name D / H / P
97 1873 Challenger D / H / P
99 1874 Shah D / H / P
102 1874 Vigilant D / H / P
103 1874 Ulysses D / H / P
115 1875 Champion D / H / P
118 1876 Flying Fish D / H
120 1876 Brilliant Star D / H / P
121 1876 England D / H / P
122 1876 City of Gloucester D / H
123 1876 Daring D / H / P
124 1876 President D / H / P
127 1876 Pilot Fish D / H / P
128 1877 Lord Collingwood D / H
129 1877 Champion D / H / P
132 1877 Victory D / H
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The following tugs were built by J Readhead & Sons:

Yd No Year Ship Name D / H / P
209 1884 Challenge D / H / P
211 1885 William Jolliffe D / H / P
219 1885 William Jolliffe D / H / P
221 1886 Thomas Jolliffe D / H
237 1888 Jane Jolliffe D / H / P
262 1890 Sarah Jolliffe D / H / P
299 1894 Andrew Jolliffe D / H / P
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