The firm of Brigham & Cowan was established in 1876 by Thomas Brigham and Malcolm Cowan. In 1900 it was incorporated as a limited liability company as Brigham & Cowan Ltd. It became a private company in 1908 but returned to public ownership in 1953. In 1924 the company acquired the shipyard of Hepple Ltd, located beside the Brigham & Cowan premises in South Shields. In 1966 Brigham and Cowan merged with Middle Docks and Engineering Co to form North East Coast Shiprepairers Ltd (NECS). Shortly after its creation, NECS took over the Mercantile Dry Dock Co. In 1969 NECS was purchased by Court Line. In 1972 Court Line purchased Doxford & Sunderland which included T & W Greenwell, which was then transferred into the NECS organisation. In 1974 Court Line collapsed due mainly to problems in their holiday businesses caused by the huge changes in oil prices. British Government nationalised Court Line's shipbuilding, Shiprepair and Engineering interests including NECS. 01/07/1977 Twenty seven shipbuilding companies, six marine engine builders and their subsidiaries were nationalised. 1980 Tyne Shiprepair created, including Brigham & Cowan. Brigham & Cowan closed in 1982.

Above map, dated 1912, is copyright of Ordnance Survey

Above: Brigham & Cowan's repair yard, before their large dock was built. Photo is courtesy of Julia Northam

Above map, dated 1960, is copyright of Ordnance Survey

Above photo, showing the new large dock, is copyright of Tyne & Wear Museums

Above photo is copyright of Tyne & Wear Museums

Above advert, from the Journal of Commerce & Shipping Telegraph - 1960, is courtesy of Kevin Blair

Above advert is from the Port of Tyne Handbook -1972/3

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