Sunderland Shipbuilding - Pickersgill

Restored reproduction of an original advert included in the 1950 edition of the "Port of Sunderland" Official Handbook issued jointly by the River Wear Commissioners and the Sunderland Corporation.  The book was printed and published by Thomas Reed & Company Limited of High Street West in Sunderland. 

Founded in 1838, Pickersgill’s yard built wooden ships until 1880, launching the last ever wooden vessel on the River Wear. That same year, they built their first iron ship, marking a new era in shipbuilding.

In 1907, the firm became William Pickersgill & Sons Ltd, producing cargo ships, tramps, and colliers. After merging with S.P. Austin & Son in 1954, they became Austin & Pickersgill Ltd, famous for the SD14 cargo ships.

Nationalised in 1977, the yard closed in 1988, ending 150 years of shipbuilding history in Sunderland.

Printed on high quality 230gsm matt archival paper.