Shipbreaking on the Tees

[Hornbeam]

Is there any information around in regards to shipbreaking at Stockton/Thornaby? there is a picture of what appears to be a part dismantled Warship just downriver from Victoria Bridge.

[northeast]

Certainly was shipbreaking there, was it on the Thornaby side? South Stockton Shipbreaking Co. comes to mind. May have occupied the site of the closed Richardson, Duck shipyard (closed 1924)

Yes remember now, they were active in 1930's and were intended breakers of the American WEST HIKA aground south of Seaham in 01/1936, the company bought and lost the Grimsby tug BARTON during the process. Already well covered on this forum by Ron M.

viewtopic.php?f=31&t=11617&p=23058&hilit=west+hika#p23058

[Hornbeam]

Thank You for the info N.E. as children my brother and I were taken down to look at a U- Boat Post WW2 which was moored on the Stockton side about where the Barrage is now, well for years I thought it was a U-boat however it turned out to be a U Class R.N. Sub I found out in later years, the breaking was done on the Thornaby side and a number of Warships were also broken up there, just wondered if there was any photographs around or more info on the Thornaby Site. Regards, R@2

[northeast]

Ron, a quick check indicates that UNISON ex P.43 was broken up at Thornaby, arrived 19/05/1950, she had been on loan to Russia 1944-1949. This was the only U-class there, I think. There was also the later V-class VIGOROUS ex P.74 arrived 23/12/1949 (these might be sale dates, not sure).

[Hornbeam]

Thanks again N.E. There is a photograph on I think the Stockton Gov site showing what appears to be a well cut down Warship a bit further up river next to where the Flour Mill was built, must have been between the Wars. Regards, Ron@2.

[CLYDEBRAE]

The South Stockton Shipbreaking Co Ltd operated on part of what had been Richardson Duck's yard at Thornaby. This part of Thornaby having been known as South Stockton in the mid nineteenth century. F. H. Verrill was a founding director of South Stockton Shipbrewking, having previously been a director of Richardson Duck. He lived at Parkmore, Eaglescliffe, well known today as the Parkmore Hotel.

The first ship to be dismantled was T&J Harrison's "Gladiator". She arrived in mid October 1932 after about 2 years lay up at Fowey.

One other interesting arrival for breaking at the South Stockton yard was the Finnish flag "Union". She arrived in 1936 and was interesting in that she was dismantled at the place of her birth, having been launched by Richardson Duck as the "Fernhill", in 1908

[northeast]

As a side interest, UNION at one time was owned as ROWANBURN by Smith, Hogg of West Hartlepool
http://www.teesbuiltships.co.uk/view.ph ... l=FERNHILL

[northeast]

A quick look through Lenton & Colledge sloops etc. shows
SCARBOROUGH 03/07/1949
FRASERBURGH 03/01/1948
ARDROSSAN 29/08/1948
DORNOCH 01/01/1948
KINGFISHER 21/04/1947
SHEARWATER 21/04/1947

[Hornbeam]

Many Thanks to both of you for the information, sounds like you may be local to Teesside Clydebrae, have you seen the photograph on the Stockton Library site with what looks to be the aforementioned partly stripped Warship up near to the Mill, the vessel looks to be too narrow gutted for a Merchant Vessel that along with a Transom Stern.
I always found it strange when Vessels built in the N.E. travel thousands of miles end up wrecked on local beaches.

[northeast]

This is a link to the photo Hornbeam Ron refers to re a warship, clearly on the Thornaby side, bets are on a light cruiser and ex Royal Navy.
I have also put it on SeaTheShips where we have at least one very good naval expert.

https://picturestocktonarchive.com/2003 ... n-c1930-2/