PALMERS SHIPYARD
In late 1851 brothers Charles Mark and George Palmer were to set up a shipbuilding business which would see almost 1000 ships launched into the River Tyne.
The business premises would be on the site of Simon Temple, a yard that had previously built wooden Warships for the Royal Navy in a small village called Jarrow. As Jarrow grew in size and population to support Palmers workforce requirements. By the early 1900,s Palmers would be employing up to 10,000 people.
Charles Palmer and 2nd wife Augusta Mary
With families and supporting industries Jarrow had grown into a town of around 40,000 inhabitants.
The success of Palmers Shipyard was crucial as the great majority of the towns workers and families were now dependent on it.
Charles Palmers family background was that his father was a ship owner and timber merchant. Charles himself, a managing partner in the firm John Bowes who were coal owners and coke producers.
In 1853 the steam collier Jarrow was built and powered by an engine built by the company.
HMS Terror , the yards first warship was launched having taken only 3 months to build using the process of rolling plates and a dedicated workforce of 900 working day and night on the vessel .
Local industry played a further part when Armstrong,s of Elswick supplied its twenty six 68-pounder guns.
Palmers Blast Furnaces
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In 1857 the yard built there own blast furnaces for the production of pig-iron. The iron ore was collected from there own purpose built harbour that was near company mines between Saltburn and Whitby on the North Yorkshire coast.and transported using their own ships.
Although the Iron and Steel manufacture was built for there own use they also exported it around the world.
Although the Iron and Steel manufacture was built for there own use they also exported it around the world.
Simpsons Hostel
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The frigate HMS Defence was built in1862 using armour plate 4 1/2" thick (113mm)
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Simpsons Hostel in Black Road, Hebburn. It was built in 1919 to house workmen employed at Palmers who were unable to find accommodation.
1866 say the launch of the Troopship Jumna.
In 1884 the first steel vessel, the Albatross, was launched.
Oil Tanker , The Era is launched.
1892 the Battleship HMS Resolution was built.
The following year the company suffered great losses and resulted in Charles Palmer , now, Sir Charles resigned as chairman of the company.
Still highly regarded for the the part he played in the industrial growth of the area this 80 year old would become the Mayor of Jarrow for the second time in 1902-03
At the grand old age of 84, Sir Charles Palmer dies.
HMS Queen Mary
Launching of HMS Queen Mary
One of the biggest ships to be built at Palmers was the battle cruiser HMS Queen Mary. This Lion Class Battlecruiser , although in design it had great firepower, but to give it speed its armour was not as heavy as a Battleship.
HMS Queen Mary sailing out of the Tyne
In 1916 at the Battle of Jutland she was sunk with the loss of many lives.
In 1916 at the Battle of Jutland she was sunk with the loss of many lives.
