R. Cragg and Sons, Dock Head, Middlesbrough, shipbuilder and repairers
Based on the South bank of the Tees, this yard built tramps, coasters and tugs.
1825 Robert Craggs had been involved in ship repairs at Stockton from 1825 and moved into shipbuilding there.
1832 The business of ship builders and repairers was founded at Tees Dockyard. Middlesbrough[1]
1865 Shown as 'Craggs and Sons, Steam Marble Works, Newcastle'[2]
1866 Opened another yard at Middlesbrough[3].
1872 Shipbuilders and timber merchants; repairers of timber and iron vessels; patent slipways capable of taking up vessels of large size[4].
1875 The first iron ship was made by the (Middlesbrough?) yard in January.
1876 Only two ships were built this year.
Three others were made up to 1882.
1885 The yard was closed in July in order to modernise its facilities for steel shipbuilding. The yard focussed on tramps and steamers from here on in.
1896 The site was taken over by Dixons?; Craggs moved to a site which later became Dent's Wharf[5].
1900 The company R. Craggs and Sons was registered on 29 December, to acquire the business of shipbuilders of Messrs. H. F. and E. H. Craggs. [6]
1900s The yard made a number of large tramps utilising its new facilities.
1908 The first Isherwood system vessel was built at the yard and launched in August as Paul Paix. (Sir Joseph Isherwood was a director of the yard.) In the year from 1907-08, eleven ships were built.
1909 The freight slump led to the yard closing down with the last ship, Conrad Mohr, completed in July. The yard was then demolished.
See Also
Sources of Information
- British Shipbuilding Yards. 3 vols by Norman L. Middlemiss