Sunderland Shipbuilding - Thompson & Laing

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 the 19th century, J.L. Thompson & Sons and Sir James Laing & Sons were two of Sunderland’s most iconic shipbuilders. Thompson’s yard at North Sands launched world-famous vessels like the Liberty Ships, while Laing’s Deptford Yard built the Wear’s first iron ship in 1853.

In 1954, the two firms merged with Sunderland Forge to form Sunderland Shipbuilding, Dry Docks & Engineering Co. Ltd., later absorbed into Doxford & Sunderland Shipbuilding Group in 1961.

Nationalised in 1977, the yards closed by the late 1980s, ending over a century of shipbuilding excellence on the River Wear.

Printed on high quality 230gsm matt archival paper.