James Purdy Rennoldson Tyne shipbuilder South Shields

TYNE TUGS AND TUG BUILDERS

A history of Tyne Tugs, their builders and owners

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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 provided yet another, but also 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 could 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 tugs were built by JP Rennoldson at North Shields:

Yd No	Year	Ship 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	Robin Hood	D / H
9	1868	Meggie Smart	D / H
	1868	Robin Hood	D / H
	1868	Constantine
12	1869	Victor	D / H
	1870	Star O'Tay	D / H
	1870	Victor	D / H
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The following tugs were built by JP Rennoldson at South Shields:

Yd No	Year	Ship Name	D / H / P
	1870	Smarts	D / H
	1872	Britannia	D / H
	1872	New Stour	D / H / P
	1872	Sarah Smart	D / H
	1873	Earl of Windsor	D / H
30	1873	Hercules	D / H
41	1876	England	D / H
	1876	America	D / H / P
	1876	Governor	D / H / P
	1877	Tyne Dock No 3	D / H / P
	1877	Earl of Beaconsfield	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
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
190	1898	Norseman	D / H
191	1898	Goole No 4	D / H / P
189	1899	Titan	D / H / P
192	1899	Scotsman	D / H / P
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 / P
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
261	1909	Nyora	D / H / P
262	1909	Dewan	D / H
263	1909	Abeille No 10	D / H / P
264	1910	Cabo da Roca	D / H / P
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 / P
325	1925	Abeille No 21	D / H / P
326	1925	Tamesa	D / H / P
327	1926	Atlas	D / H / P
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