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1893, while his son was forced to retire. The business then passed to Robert
Thompson, eldest son of Joseph, whose expert abilities as a shipbuilder were already recognised nationwide. The year 1896 saw the firm celebrate its Golden Jubilee in style, with ship number 336 being launched in January. The ship weighed 4,932 tonnes and measured 396 feet (121 m)– a giant when compared to the original
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staff was kept on. After lying virtually idle for four years, it was decided that cheaper production, construction improvements and improved ship performances were the way forward. Under the direction of Major Robert Norman
Thompson and his son, Robert Cyril Thompson, research led to the creation of a distinctive new ship model - the
257:. Iron ships were, by now, far more popular and the crafts which had flourished in the days of sail – mast, rope and sail making - were all affected by the steamer age. Thompsons underwent a major overhaul to prepare for metal vessels and in 1871, just after the finishing touches were made, its name was changed to Joseph L Thompson.
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was bought by
Thompsons in its centenary year, to allow the building of larger and faster vessels. In the 1960s, Thompson's spent millions of pounds expanding their capacity to build ships of up to 150,000 tons. Bigger and bigger ships were built by workers throughout the next two decades, but the
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which followed the war, however, hit
Thompsons hard. Indeed, in 1923, for the first time in the firm's history, not a single ship was launched in a year. The yard managed to struggle back with orders the following year, but the "Hungry Thirties" saw depression hit the yard again and only a skeleton
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By the year 1880, the firm was in possession of the entire North Sands area, where seven shipyards had previously existed. Its 100th vessel was launched four years later. But, as its prosperity flourished, so the health of Joseph
Thompson senior and junior declined. The senior Mr Thompson died in
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A Partnership Deal was signed for the yard in 1853, with the firm now including Robert senior and junior, as well as
Thompson's two other sons, Joseph and John. Joseph, however, quickly found himself in charge following the retirement of Robert senior and junior, as well as John, between then and
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managed to disrupt the work at times, bombing the site twice in May 1943. A ship was sunk and the joiners’ shop severely damaged. The year 1946 saw
Britain once more at peace and staff at Thompson's celebrate its 100th anniversary. A statement in the firm's anniversary brochure reads: "In the
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1860. Already experienced in designing vessels, he devoted his energies to furthering the business, being joined by his own sons, Robert and Joseph, within a few years. The year 1870 was a particular highlight, as it saw the last wooden ship built at North Sands. It was named
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at this time quickly caused the firm's collapse, and the sons were forced to take positions at other firms. Down, but not out, Robert decided to fight back. His firm, Robert
Thompson & Sons, was launched once more on 13 February 1846. It was to prove a huge success.
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was the occasion of great rejoicing," states a centenary brochure published by
Thompsons in 1946. "The apprentices followed the ancient custom and went through the ceremony of ducking and plunging into the water as soon as the ship was safely launched.
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capable hands of those who today lead and control the fortunes of the firm, the aim still remains to give the best and deliver ships of the highest quality."
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vessel in just six weeks. But it took him another 17 years to launch his own company, going into business with his three sons – all apprenticed as
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Robert's first association with North Sands came in 1820, when he joined forces with seven business associates to build a 12
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brought in a £300 profit and helped establish the yard's reputation for good shipbuilding. The yard's first ship,
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North Sands became the new home of the firm and, with a staff of just eight, they built a brig of 12 keels –
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318:. Workers churned out 40 vessels during the war, a proud figure that was noted at the highest levels. The
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was among the designs to be created, produced and manufactured at the yard's base at North Sands.
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686:"CYRIL THOMPSON C.B.E. HISTORY OF THE LIBERTY SHIP (Extracts from David Aris's Writings)"
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after launch from the North Sands shipyard of J.L. Thompson & Sons Ltd, 12 April 1949
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on his kitchen floor and, by the age of 22, had built several craft in a berth below the
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533:"Report on the Access to Shipbuilding Collections in North East England (ARK) Project"
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The founder of J.L. Thompson and Sons was Robert
Thompson, the son of a
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were just three of the high-ranking visitors to tour the site. But
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even paid a visit in June 1917, to praise the work being done. The
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594:"Archive Exhibition Celebrates 10 years of National Glass Centre"
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North Sands shipyard of J.L. Thompson & Sons, May 1950.
688:. Doxford Engine Friends Association. Archived from
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Allied technological cooperation during World War II
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yard was eventually mothballed until 1986, when the
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Doxford and Sunderland Shipbuilding and Engineering
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783:Shipbuilding companies of the City of Sunderland
307:The largest ship ever built at North Sands, the
763:Former defence companies of the United Kingdom
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170:, and at 18 he started work as an apprentice
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616:"ALFRED HOLT & CO, THE BLUE FUNNEL LINE"
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565:"Red Sea Shipwrecks with Northeast Origins"
357:was built. Today, the site is home to the
174:. He spent his evenings, however, learning
567:. Tyne & Wear Archives. Archived from
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758:Defunct shipbuilding companies of England
742:Joseph L. Thompson & Sons, Sunderland
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503:. Sunderland City Council. Archived from
471:. Thompson One Name Study. Archived from
538:. Tyne and Wear Archives. Archived from
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233:allowances at this time were a pint of
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288:. The first ship built to the design,
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498:"Shipbuilding on the Wear: Part 2"
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221:, soon followed. "The launch of
773:United Kingdom in World War II
428:Silver Line (shipping company)
253:to commemorate the end of the
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768:United Kingdom in World War I
386:List of ship launches in 1905
664:"Shadows of a glorious past"
618:. Red Duster. Archived from
778:Maritime history of England
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154:, North Sands, April 1860.
88:William Doxford & Sons
347:John Crown & Sons Ltd
345:The neighbouring yard of
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18:J. L. Thompson & Sons
359:University of Sunderland
596:. National Glass Centre
375:Thompson family history
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120:J.L. Thompson and Sons
30:J.L. Thompson and Sons
642:"Salute to the river"
423:List of Liberty ships
418:National Glass Centre
363:National Glass Centre
328:Mrs Winston Churchill
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197:. Unfortunately, the
150:Launch of the barque
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744:at Wikimedia Commons
166:, playing among the
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255:Franco-Prussian War
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545:on 3 November 2013
510:on 11 October 2007
412:Drakensberg Castle
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740:Media related to
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666:. Sunderland Echo
644:. Sunderland Echo
475:on 6 October 2008
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620:the original
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569:the original
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505:the original
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473:the original
438:Type C2 ship
433:Type C1 ship
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391:Liberty ship
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332:Duke of Kent
316:World War II
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86:Merged with
61:Shipbuilding
47:Company type
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269:World War I
191:shipwrights
752:Categories
449:References
354:Challenger
309:oil tanker
281:depression
228:Carpenters
199:depression
172:shipwright
164:River Wear
132:Sunderland
128:River Wear
112:Sunderland
108:River Wear
396:Park ship
339:Luftwaffe
312:Sandanger
290:Embassage
273:Admiralty
223:Vencedora
219:Vencedora
152:Vencedora
94:Successor
718:21 March
696:21 March
670:25 March
648:25 March
626:21 March
600:21 March
575:21 March
549:21 March
514:21 March
479:21 March
369:See also
361:and the
336:Hitler's
330:and the
243:caulking
239:forenoon
124:shipyard
57:Industry
275:craft.
237:in the
203:Britain
142:History
126:on the
75:Defunct
67:Founded
51:Private
405:(AF-3)
403:Culoga
122:was a
543:(PDF)
536:(PDF)
508:(PDF)
501:(PDF)
324:Queen
263:Pearl
251:Peace
231:'
215:Pearl
211:Pearl
193:– at
168:keels
720:2009
698:2009
672:2009
650:2009
628:2009
602:2009
577:2009
551:2009
516:2009
481:2009
401:USS
352:ITM
322:and
320:King
241:for
235:beer
187:keel
83:Fate
78:1961
70:1846
410:SS
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
