April 11, 2010 Swan Hunters

A sorry looking Swan Hunter shipyard in Wallsend with many of the cranes now gone to India .
This is the Main Yard in Wallsend and the exit under the bridge and up the hill would see hundreds of workers running up the hill when the end of day hooter went on the Big River

The Swan Hunter shipyard in Wallsend was not only a major employer in the region but also became a landmark, with its iconic cranes shaping the skyline.

Workers at the yard, which closed in 2006, built a wide variety of ships, including the famous RMS Mauretania.

Their memories will form part of the Swans of the Tyne exhibition at Newcastle's Discovery Museum until May.

There will also be photos, video footage and technical drawings on display.

January 28, 2010 Swan Hunters Cranes

This is a wider view of the Swan Hunter cranes looking across the river from Hebburn, what was the former Palmers yard across the Tyne to the Big yard at Wallsend.

Charles Palmer was a MP and a major local employer who set up the Palmer shipbuilding & Iron company which were major employers in Jarrow & Hebburn

You can read more about Charles Palmer & Palmer Shipbuilders at the following links :-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmers_Shipbuilding_and_Iron_Company_Limited

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_Charles_Palmer,_1st_Baronet

January 26, 2010 Swan Hunter's Cranes

These are the cranes which were at Swan Hunter's yard in Wallsend until 2007 when they were taken down and shipped to India.

There's lots of websites which will tell you all about the history of shipbuilding on the Tyne & at Swans - here's a link to one of many sites

http://www.swanhuntershipyard.co.uk/Swan_Hunters_Shipyard/Welcome.html

Here's a link also to a video of the cranes leaving the Tyne for Mumbai

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7988773.stm