KEY BELOW: D / H / P (D means basic dimensions are shown; H means a history is given; P means one or more photographs are available)
Shipbuilder: William Robson & George Gray, South Shore, Gateshead (1815 - 1830)
Shipbuilder: Robert Gray, South Shore, Gateshead (1836 - 1844)
Shipbuilder: George Gray, Friar's Goose, Gateshead (1844 - 1848)
| The above map shows the location of the Robson & Gray yard, which today would be between the west end of Gateshead Stadium and the river.
The earliest evidence of a shipbuilding yard on this site is shown on Wood’s Plan of Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead (1827) with the annotation ‘Robson and Gray’.
By the mid-19th century the yard was run by the partners David Gaddy and Lewis MacPherson Lamb.
Map evidence shows that the yard remained in use over the rest of the 19th century until well into the 20th century.
On the 1st edition Ordnance Survey plan of the area the yard contains two slipways which run almost parallel with the course of the river and launch downstream.
There is a saw pit at the north western edge of the yard, but few buildings are apparent.
The yard location is also referred to as Tyne Main, Co Durham.
05/1830: Robson & Gray became bankrupt whilst BETSY was being completed for their own account. On the 29/05/1830 the BETSY and the schooner SWIFT were offered for sale by auction. The following ships were built at the yard. |
| Year | Ship Name | D / H / P | Builder |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1815 | Industry | D / H | Robson & Gray, South Shore, Gateshead |
| 1818 | Hannah | D / H | Robson & Gray, South Shore, Gateshead |
| 1819 | Blackett | D / H | Robson & Gray, South Shore, Gateshead |
| 1822 | Barbara | D / H | Robson & Gray, South Shore, Gateshead |
| 1823 | Hedleys | D / H | William Robson, South Shore, Gateshead |
| 1823 | Speedwell | D / H | Robson & Gray, South Shore, Gateshead |
| 1825 | Diadem | D / H | Robson & Gray, South Shore, Gateshead |
| 1825 | Julia | D / H | Robson & Gray, South Shore, Gateshead |
| 1828 | Cordelia | D / H | Robson & Gray, South Shore, Gateshead |
| 1829 | Durham | D / H | Robson & Gray, South Shore, Gateshead |
| 1829 | Swift | D / H | Robson & Gray, South Shore, Gateshead |
| 1830 | Betsy | D / H | Robson & Gray, South Shore, Gateshead |
| 1836 | Liverpool | D / H | Robert Gray, Friar's Goose, Gateshead |
| 1837 | Thomas Hoult | D / H | Robert Gray, Friar's Goose, Gateshead |
| 1837 | Van | D / H | Robert Gray, South Shore, Gateshead |
| 1838 | Cottager | D / H | Robert Gray, South Shore, Gateshead |
| 1838 | Grafton | D / H | Robert Gray, Gateshead |
| 1839 | Northumbrian | D / H | Robert Gray, Friar's Goose, Gateshead |
| 1840 | Belvidere | D / H | Robert Gray, South Shore, Gateshead |
| 1840 | Darling | D / H | Robert Gray, South Shore, Gateshead |
| 1844 | Chance | D / H | Robert Gray, Friar's Goose, Gateshead |
| 1844 | Palermo | D / H | Robert Gray, Friar's Goose, Gateshead |
| 1844 | Frances Western | D / H | George Gray, Friar's Goose, Gateshead |
| 1845 | George | D / H | George Gray, Friar's Goose, Gateshead |
| 1846 | Fairy | D / H | George Gray, Friar's Goose, Gateshead |
| 1848 | Levant | D / H | George Gray, Friar's Goose, Gateshead |
| ----- | ----------------------- | ---------- | ------------------------------------ |