Readhead Tyne shipbuilder South Shields

TYNE TUGS AND TUG BUILDERS

A history of Tyne Tugs, their builders and owners

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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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