Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'

Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum'
[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

Rules! No Party Politics,swearing,derogatory remarks or we delete. Anyone sharing our content on Face Book must credit 'Hebburn and our Neighbours'. As an Election will be held on July 4th 2024 we are waivering our 'No Politics Rule aslong as Posts are Respectful and don't include exhortations to vote one way or another.

Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?

Posted by Allan Campbell on 8/8/2024, 21:49:56

Can we have a photo of the yard entrance and office building as it stands today, that’s assuming it’s still there.

Last I heard was it was going to be housing.

Update please.

Allan Campbell

Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?

Posted by Norman Dunn on 9/8/2024, 9:46:09, in reply to "Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?"

This is Leslies from Google Earth.
Not sure if its still like that today though.

Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?

Posted by Sheila on 9/8/2024, 10:50:34, in reply to "Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?"

How sad to see it derelict Norman. The thousands who work there through the years and the amazing ships they built.

Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?

Posted by Thomas Buglass on 9/8/2024, 10:50:42, in reply to "Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?"

The office block is being demolished and is going to be cleaned for housing.

Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?

Posted by Mac Hardy on 9/8/2024, 11:03:35, in reply to "Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?"

That was my office under the For Sale sign.

Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?

Posted by Allan Campbell on 9/8/2024, 12:34:42, in reply to "Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?"

My Great Grandfather a riveter there from about 1885 to close to 1921 when he died. He had moved down from Paisley

Grandfather Campbell, a plater ( one of the Royals) from about 1898 to 1956 ish.

G/F two brothers and sister worked there as well.

My Grandfather Martin Jackson worked in the Counting house from about 1890 till 1950 ish.

Others from the family also worked there the last being my Grandmother Campbell’s Nephew who was the secretary to I think the MD.

Our family has a lot to be thankful for due to Leslie’s.

Allan C.

Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?

Posted by John Shearer on 9/8/2024, 11:11:16, in reply to "Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?"

I worked in the ordering department (Just ) above the office entrance door, before going into the yard to serve my time. Sad to see it now.

Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?

Posted by Michael Bambrough on 9/8/2024, 12:37:40, in reply to "Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?"

l worked there in the drawing office from 1969 to 1972 good times

Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?

Posted by Tom Barker on 9/8/2024, 14:38:50, in reply to "Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?"

Hawthorn Leslie's in its early days in the middle of the 1800s instegated our Barker family moving from shipbuilding on Wear side to Tyneside when my great grand dad ships carpenter and my great grand mother her as a sailmaker they were housed in houses built by Leslie's opposite the yard in no 9 Bon accord st along side Bottom of Ellison st.My grand dad was born there he worked at the yard as a Felter he left home and moved to Dunston st my dad was born there in1901alongwith his two younger brothers uncle Joe and Thomas all 3 were riviters in 1926 the depression tom and joe left to work in Southampton dad married my mam and moved to Tyne st where they had 7 lads John Jimmy Alan Ronnie my twin brother who served his time as a plater and myself as a woodcutting machinist both Robert and l were next door in Palmers.the yards like every one else was our bread and butter even my mother having ten children in all worked as a cleaner in Palmers offices early mornings and evenings.
Leslie's as a 12 to15 year old give us our pocket money by selling papers for Whinnie Gallagher outside the main gate bottom of end of Ellison .st.
l get up to Hebburn now and then to see its plight is heart breaking it deserves better why don't they just bulldoze it.when you think back Leslie's was the hub of this side of the river,as Jimmy Nail in his song at the end Big River wouldwith words NOT NOW

Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it? Tom B

Posted by Allan Campbell on 9/8/2024, 16:35:19, in reply to "Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?"

I have a photo of my Grandfather, his youngest son John and a bunch of others.

I suspect that by the way G/F and Uncle John are dressed that it could be for John’s 21 st. Birthday in 1914.

All the chaps could be riveters or caulkers maybe but it’s years too soon to be your family.

I had better put it on the board, you never know someone may spot some relation.

Allan C.

Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?

Posted by Tony Morrow on 9/8/2024, 16:19:51, in reply to "Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?"

Norman I had a look earlier this week and still like this but a bit more overgrown.

Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?

Posted by Bob Smith on 9/8/2024, 16:42:34, in reply to "Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?"

Leslie’s was more than a shipyard, it was a social community. Many events were organised there. I remember my first apprentices ball at age 17 where the older apprentices like Bobby Whitelaw and Peter Campbell introduced me to drinking with a kitty. I did not get as much value as the older lads as I was drunk by the time we entered the Mayfair. The variety of ‘home jobs’ produced was a revelation. I placed my first bet with Albert from the loco shed - he also ran the 21 goal buster. Mac Hardy - I believe you were an electrician liner off who I made cable ducts and hangers for when I was 16.

Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?

Posted by Mac Hardy on 10/8/2024, 9:54:44, in reply to "Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?"

Hi Bob, you must have an excellent memory, yes, that was me, rose through the ranks and ended my days in Swans when they closed as Company Quality Assurance Manager. Hope you are keeping well ?

Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?

Posted by David Henley on 10/8/2024, 14:07:02, in reply to "Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?"

Mac ,you graduated to the Big Yard!
The Illustrious(Lusty as named by Navy men).and the Ark Royal. Why are there no yards or history of them left on the river.
Brought this up before but it's a ridiculous particularly when Leslie's gas the old Frigate in the dry dock early 2000s.

For David H

Posted by Allan Campbell on 10/8/2024, 16:30:37, in reply to "Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?"

There is plenty info on the yards. But you have to find it.

The discovery museum in Newcastle should have a lot.

I gave a few books to Norman some years ago but still have a few more. They will be lost when I’m gone as family will have no use for them as we moved to Yorkshire when our son was 2 years old.

The trouble is that kind of info is sort of still fresh in our minds but the younger generations don’t have a clue about it or if they do it’s very rare. Hope I’m wrong about that !

Allan C.

Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?

Posted by Bob Smith on 11/8/2024, 10:47:26, in reply to "Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?"

Yes Mac - I am ok for my age (75) according to the doctor.
Myself, Ernie Thirlwell and Quentin Scammell were forever bothering the electrician liner offs in their room for good paying jobs on piece work - bellmouth ducts three shillings and sixpence each!
Other names I remember from then Les Stevenson, Dennis Corkin, Blackwood, Halliwell.

Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?

Posted by Mac Hardy on 11/8/2024, 12:17:29, in reply to "Re: Leslie’s ship yard what is happening to it?"

DickiecBlackwood and either Geordie or Frankie Hallowell.

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[ Norman Dunn's 'Hebburn and our Neighbours Forum' ]

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