This picture shows the site where John Readhead was to set up his yard and it appears to have been a boat yard in 1848.

1819........John Readhead was born in Earsdon, Northumberland.

14 Nov 1839......... John Readhead married SUSANNAH RICHARDSON at St. Hilda's Church, South Shields on 20 November 1842. She was born 1819 in Whitby, North Yorkshire
1843......There son Robert born in South Shields.

1846......There daughter Mary Ann born in South Shields.

1849......There son Thomas Richardson born in South Shields.

1850......Son John born in South Shields.

1852......Son James born in South Shields.

1855......Daughter Susannah born in South Shields.

1861......There son William Bell born in South Shields.

1875......John Readhead commenced his shipbuilding business. He purchased a site of about 10 acres on the east side of Tyne Dock.

1878......Alderman John Readhead opened the new building for the Local Marine Board at the rear of the Customs House.

1878 & 1879.....John Readhead elected Mayor of South Shields.

In 1879 they built the "Trewidden" for the Hain Line of St Ives, and she was the first of a great list of ships built for the Cornish firm.

1881 - The West Dock shipyard of the late James Young was acquired, and this was laid out as a modern iron shipbuilding yard and engineering works. The yard is fitted with plant of the newest and most approved construction, a large number of hydraulic machines being employed, and the workshops and sheds, etc., lighted with electricity throughout. The works also include a large marine engine-building establishment, the firm engining all the steamers they build. They employ a working staff of about 2000 hands in the various departments. A large graving dock near the shipyard was subsequently acquired for repairing purposes.

February 1883.....John Readhead elected representative on Tyne River Commissioners.

March 19, 1887 - The foundation-stone for St, Aiden's Church was laid by Alderman John Readhead J.P.

24 May 1887..... John's wife, Susannah dies.

1887.....The large east window of St Thomas' Church in Fowler Street was filled with stained glass in the December of 1887, at the cost of Alderman John Readhead, in memory of his wife.

1893 & 1894.....Robert Readhead elected Mayor of South Shields.

March 9th, 1894 John Readhead dies aged 76 at his home Southgarth in Westoe Village. Alderman Readhead, was twice Mayor of the Borough, President of the Conservative Association, and filled many public offices.

1895......The family of the late John Readhead announced their intention to contribute £4000 towards the erection of a new wing to the Ingham Infirmary at Westoe in South Shields on the sole condition that the name of their father should in some way be associated with the extension. (source; The Borough of South Shields by George B Hodgson)

July 1897.....Robert Readhead elected representative on Tyne River Commissioners.

In 1900, the output of the West Dock firm, exclusive of repairs, amounted to seven new vessels of 23,919 tons, several of which were built for special trades, while in 1901 seven vessels of 24,043 tons, and in 1902 eight vessels of 24,764 tons gross register, were launched. (source; The Borough of South Shields by George B Hodgson)

1909.....John Readhead and Sons became a limited company with private company status. Robert Readhead retired.

23rd January, 1909.....The first meeting of the Limited Company took place with Mr. James Readhead as Chairman & Managing Director, Mr. John Readhead and Mr. William Bell Readhead as Directors and Mr. Thomas Bell Readhead as the first Secretary of the Company.

1910....The Head Office was opened along with the 'bridge of sighs' - the local name for the covered walkway that connected the head office with the technical departments.

August 4th, 1914.....Readheads came under the control of the Admiralty. During World War 1, the firm launched 20 steam screw cargo vessels and 3 armoured "P" class patrol boats, 4 lighters and repaired many war damaged ships.

1917.....Visit of H. M. King George V to the river Tyne accompanied by Mr. James Readhead who pointed out the West Docks to him.

August 6th, 1919......'Welcome home' party organised by Mr. James Readhead in the grounds of Westoe Hall for those of his men who had enlisted in the Army and Navy and their families.

1921 - A post war boom occurred as shipping companies needed to replace ships lost during the war.
24 Jul 1922....Robert Readhead dies.

18 Mar 1930....Sir James Readhead dies after a long illness, the last surviving partner and he was succeeded by his only surviving son, Sir James Halder Readhead. A recession was under way so that by 1938 it was an open secret that only the threat of World War 2, saved Readheads from financial disaster.

May 1940.....There can be no doubt that the tension of the war days told on Sir James Halder Readhead, as it did on many others, but his death in 1940 came as a great shock. In April 1941 major fires were started by incendiary bombs and several bombs fell in the yard causing much damage, the Joiners shop and sawmills were gutted. As in the first World War, the dry dock were always busy repairing damaged ships and 35 new ships were built. At this time over 2000 people were employed. The Chairmanship passed immediately to Mr. Christopher Southall. Mr. Southall, a member of the board since 1936. Managing Director is Mr. Harold Towers.

1943....King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited yard.

1945 - A large area of land to the south of Corstorphine Town was taken over primarily to accommodate the Canteen and a storage yard.

1950's - Apart from a period in 1950/51 when the yard was closed, the decade was notable for the Strick line maintaining one new build a year and several "Baron" boats were built for H Hogarth & Sons. Until 1957 all new vessels built at the yard, except two, had been Readhead-engined and boilered, but however the tendency for diesel to displace steam was universal, therefore it was decide to stop making engines and boilers.

1957....Chairman of the Board, Mr. Southall announced in 1957 that he thought it was time for a younger man to take his place. There followed the election of Mr. Towers to this position.

1960's- This era dawned with the news that Hains were back and in 1963 one of the most widely known names in shipping, the Cunard Steam Ship Co came to South Shields for the first of a series of express cargo liners. In 1965 further extensions were made to one of the berths so that they were able to build ships up to 20,000 tons dead-weight.

1970's - Readheads were taken over by British Shipbuilders in 1977. The very last ship to built by them was the "Singularity ".