Wood, Skinner and Co

Wood, Skinner & Co. Ltd., Bill Quay

James Skinner and William Wood opened Wood, Skinner & Co. Ltd, a Tyne yard with six slipways, in 1883 at Bill Quay. Both of the business partners had experience working for other well-known shipbuilders (Skinner worked for Coutts Low Walker yard and Wood for Schlesinger, Davis). The shipyard expanded to eight slipways in the 1920s.

Shipbuilding

• 1883 - Initially the yard built coasters and short-sea traders, largely for Scandinavian companies.

• 1889 - The yard also made ships for the Burnett Steamship Co. Ltd of Newcastle. The small steamer Angelus was the first of 30 colliers and short-sea traders to come from the yard. Burnett had a strong working relationship with Wood, Skinner & Co. Ltd for 32 years. It only came to an end when Wood, Skinner went into liquidation in 1925.

• 1901 - This was one of the best years for the yard. 11 vessels launched ranging in size from small tramps to trawlers.

• 1912 - Two very large self-trimming colliers were built in this year: Fulgens for Gas, Light and Coke Company and Combe for Stephenson Clarke.

• 1917 - WW1 output included 12 self trimming colliers, two "Insect" class boats and six WAR 'C' and 'D' ships.

• 1921-25 - After the War, the yard relied heavily on orders from Gas, Light and Coke Company and Burnett, Sharp and Stephenson, Clarke building a total of 11 ships for them in this period.

• 1925 - The yard failed financially having built 330 small vessels and maintaining a reputation for building colliers.

Sources of Information

British Shipbuilding Yards. 3 vols by Norman L. Middlemiss