Tyneside Tug Builders in alphabetical order of Surname

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JP Rennoldson and Sons, South Shields

     Above: The Rennoldson yard in 1914. Photo copyright Newcastle City Libraries

1837 - G Rennoldson, South Shields
1850 - JP Rennoldson, South Shields
1878 - JP Rennoldson and Sons, South Shields
1914 - JP Rennoldson and Sons Ltd, South Shields

The founder of the firm was George Rennoldson who was a millwright in South Shields in 1800 and by 1826 had started a small engineering works in Wapping Street, South Shields. By 1837 the firm was building locomotive engines but marine engines were coming to the fore and soon became the main product of the firm.

A list of Tyneeside engineers in 1865 included " Mr Rennoldson, South Shields, established 1847, Marine engineers: shops for the construction of engines and boilers for tug-steamboats. Total output 1847-1866, 4 stationary engines and 66 marine engines for towing"

After the death of the founder in 1850 his son James Purdy Rennoldson, conducted the business under the well known name of JP Rennoldson. By 1857 they had expanded into shipbuilding and repairing with some of the early vessels being constructed in North Shields. However, a yard in South Shields was acquired in 1863. This yard was part of the former Wallis yard at the Lawe but a "Patent slipway" was added to it. The yard was initially being used to construct and repair wooden vessels but by 1874 they were said to be building iron hulled vessels. However it is likely that such vessels were sub-contracted to JT Eltringham and JP Rennoldson provided the engines.

After the death of Mr JP Rennoldson in 1878, the business was carried on by two of his sons, Joseph Middleton and Charles, under the title of Messrs JP Rennoldson and Sons. The building yard was remodelled in 1890 and equipped to meet the demands of composite (iron frames and wooden decks, side strakes) and full iron construction methods. By this stage the firm was specialising in the contruction of screw and paddle tugs.

In 1896 the land vacated by John Readhead provide yet another, but the last, major extension. Two years later the engine works in Pilot Street, also vacated by John Readhead, were added to the company. The first fifteen years of the 20th Century were perhaps the "Golden Age" of the firm, producing many famous vessels for use throughout the world.

In 1913 the two brothers separated; JM Rennoldson keeping the engineering works and the old shipyard, while Charles opened a new yard nearer to the Groyne. The old firm was then registered as a limited company. JM Rennoldson died in 1916 by which time the four building berths at the yard had a maximum output of 6,000 tons gross, while vessels of up to 230 feet long can be constructed. The yard also possessed a patent slip-way which was 240 feet long. The well equipped marine engineering department had a maximum annual output of 6,000 IHP.

After the death of JM Rennoldson, the shipyard and the Engineering Works were managed by Charles Ross, his son-in-law. The yard closed in 1929 owing to a severe recession in both sides of the business.

The following is a list of tugs built by the Rennoldson companies:

KEY BELOW: D - Dimensions; H - History; P - Photographs
Yd No Year Tug Name D / H / P
1 1866 Joseph Hazell D / H
2 1866 Flying Scud D / H
3 1866 Lanercost D / H
4 1867 Goole D / H / P
5 1867 Earl of Windsor D / H / P
1867 Rescue D / H
1868 Constantia
9 1868 Meggie Smart D / H
1868 Robin Hood D / H
1868 Robin Hood D / H
12 1869 Victor D / H
1870 Smarts D / H
1870 Star o'Tay D / H
1870 Victor D / H
1872 Britannia D / H
1872 New Stour D / H
1872 Sarah Smart D / H
1873 Earl of Windsor D / H
1873 Hercules D / H
1876 America D / H / P
41 1876 England D / H
1876 Governor D / H / P
1877 Earl of Beaconsfield D / H / P
1877 Tyne Dock No 3 D / H / P
1878 Asia D / H
1878 Corsair D / H / P
58 1879 Royal Saxon D / H
60 1879 Mary Louise D / H
91 1885 General Gordon D / H / P
92 1885 Australia D / H / P
97 1885 Gleaner D / H / P
102 1886 Victoria D / H
118 1889 Tyne Dock No 4 D / H / P
1890 Jason D / H / P
125 1890 Propontis D / H
127 1891 America D / H / P
128 1891 Ireland D / H / P
131 1891 Sturgeon D / H
132 1891 Goole No 8 D / H / P
133 1891 Flying Witch D / H
134 1891 Flying Wizard D / H
136 1891 Vulcan D / H
139 1892 Hero D / H / P
140 1892 Coquet D / H / P
141 1892 Corsair D / H / P
142 1892 Rita D / H / P
143 1892 Goole No 9 D / H
144 1892 Flying Mist D / H
145 1892 Flying Dutchman D / H / P
147 1893 Flying Spindrift D / H / P
148 1893 Clarence D / H / P
149 1893 Greatham D / H / P
150 1893 Hutton D / H / P
151 1893 Cavancha D / H
152 1893 Annandale D / H
153 1893 Flying Phantom D / H / P
154 1895 Hilda D / H / P
158 1894 Hellespont D / H
159 1894 Rosa D / H
161 1894 Scotsman D / H
162 1894 Enterprise D / H / P
163 1895 Warrior D / H / P
164 1895 Flying Coot D / H
165 1895 Danae D / H
166 1895 Dilwara D / H / P
168 1895 Champion D / H / P
171 1896 Sir Joseph Pease D / H / P
173 1896 Welshman D / H / P
174 1896 Goole No 10 D / H / P
175 1896 Jupiter D / H
176 1897 Ayr D / H / P
177 1897 Petrel D / H / P
182 1897 Rhona D / H
183 1898 Furness D / H / P
184 1898 Cyclop D / H / P
185 1898 Hoek van Holland D / H / P
186 1898 Gilroy D / H
187 1898 Hull D / H
188 1898 Flying Scotsman D / H / P
189 1899 Titan D / H / P
190 1898 Norseman D / H
191 1898 Goole No 4 D / H / P
192 1899 Scotsman D / H
193 1899 Stranton D / H / P
194 1899 Seaton D / H
195 1899 Goole No 2 D / H
196 1899 Goole No 3 D / H / P
197 1899 Enterprise D / H
199 1899 Abeille No 10 D / H / P
200 1900 Zeila D / H
202 1900 Hannah Jolliffe D / H / P
203 1900 Burman D / H / P
204 1900 Theresa Ward D / H / P
208 1901 Hardback D / H / P
209 1901 King Edward VII D / H / P
210 1901 Jupiter D / H
213 1901 T A Jolliffe D / H / P
214 1902 Maretanza D / H
215 1902 Lord Strathcona D / H / P
216 1902 Dolphin D / H
217 1902 Cleveleys D / H / P
218 1902 James Paterson D / H / P
219 1902 Flying Scout D / H / P
220 1902 Troon D / H / P
221 1902 Clansman D / H / P
222 1903 Dominion D / H
223 1903 Warrior D / H / P
225 1903 Barton D / H / P
226 1903 Irlam D / H / P
227 1904 Walney D / H / P
228 1904 Kingfisher D / H / P
229 1904 Rescue D / H / P
232 1904 Englishman D / H / P
233 1904 Lady Curzon D / H / P
234 1904 Roker D / H / P
235 1905 Krooman D / H / P
236 1905 Whitburn D / H / P
237 1905 Cornbrook D / H / P
238 1905 Cruiser D / H
241 1906 Lancelot D / H / P
242 1906 Abeille No 12 D / H / P
243 1906 Roman D / H / P
244 1906 Marsden D / H / P
245 1906 Hendon D / H
246 1906 Lady Crundall D / H / P
247 1907 Hercule D / H / P
248 1907 Mode Wheel D / H / P
249 1907 Abeille No 11 D / H / P
250 1907 Old Quay D / H / P
253 1908 Makis D / H
254 1908 Salvage D / H / P
255 1908 Power D / H / P
259 1909 Heroic D / H / P
260 1909 Seaham D / H / P
262 1909 Dewan D / H
262 1909 Nyora D / H / P
263 1909 Abeille No 10 D / H / P
264 1910 Cabo da Roca D / H
265 1910 Abeille No 6 D / H / P
266 1910 Abeille No 5 D / H / P
269 1910 Souter D / H / P
270 1911 Merman D / H / P
271 1911 Linesman D / H / P
273 1911 William Gray D / H / P
279 1912 Abeille No 4 D / H / P
280 1912 Oscar D Bennett D / H
281 1913 Danubius D / H
282 1913 Joseph Constantine D / H / P
283 1913 Sir Hugh Bell D / H / P
284 1913 Abeille No 11 D / H / P
285 1913 Lady Brassey D / H / P
287 1913 C J Archer D / H / P
288 1914 Abeille No 3 D / H
289 1914 Doralia D / H / P
291 1914 Lady Duncannon D / H / P
292 1914 Marksman D / H / P
293 1914 Sunderland D / H / P
294 1915 George V D / H / P
296 1915 Woonda D / H / P
297 1915 N E R No 3 D / H / P
298 1916 N E R No 4 D / H / P
303 1917 Marsden D / H / P
304 1918 Merrimac D / H / P
322 1923 Marsden D / H / P
323 1924 Hendon D / H / P
324 1924 Abeille No 20 D / H
325 1925 Abeille No 21 D / H / P
326 1925 Tamesa D / H / P
327 1926 Atlas No 108 D / H / P
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