Hebburn 1950

[Whickham]

Another fine view from Kevin Blair. This is a view of Hebburn, supposedly in 1950. Feel as though I should be able to identify some of the vessels, but I can't.

Photo courtesy of Kevin Blair.

[northeast]

Surely there are large 2 vessels being scrapped alongside the old Palmers yard, this would make it 1930's?

[northeast]

Just thinking that the inside vessel at Hawthorn Leslie seems to match the profile of BEACON GRANGE. White riband, low funnel, No.4 hatch trunked.
http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/B-Ships ... e1938.html

with DAPHNELLA alongside
http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/D-Ships ... a1938.html

maybe WAIPORI on the stocks, with single hold aft, no other merchant ships at this time
http://www.tynebuiltships.co.uk/W-Ships ... i1938.html

[Whickham]

Good theories Boss but Kevin has just called me to say that he has just found out that the photo comes from Britain From Above website and there it is dated 1946.

I think that those vessels "being scrapped" are being converted back into merchant use after the war.

The only vessels I'm aware of that were scrapped at Palmers were at the old Jarrow shipyard which is off to the left of the photo.

[northeast]

Oh, in that case HORNBY GRANGE and LATIA

Fine 2-funnel liner further downriver, so who is she?

[Whickham]

These are larger views taken directly from BFA.

Group 1 - Vessels at Hawthorn Leslie yard.

Photo is copyright of Britain from Above

Group 2 - Vessels lying alongside Palmers repair yard.

Photo is copyright of Britain from Above

Group 3 - Vessels at the entrance to Palmers repair dock.

Photo is copyright of Britain from Above

Group 4 - Vessels in Palmers repair dock.

Photo is copyright of Britain from Above

Group 5 - Vessels lying off the site of Palmers iron works

Photo is copyright of Britain from Above

[northeast]

Who was breaking ships at Palmers in 1946?
The inside vessel looks suspiciously like HMS ARGUS which is listed as arriving at Inverkeithing 12/1946 so fits this date range, did scrapping start on the Tyne?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Argus_(I49)

[Whickham]

The white twin funnelled vessel in Group 5 is the MENESTHEUS built by Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co at Dundee in 1929.
According to Wikipedia
"MV Menestheus was a Blue Funnel Liner launched in 1929. She was requisitioned by the Royal Navy for conversion to the auxiliary minelayer HMS Menestheus. She joined the 1st Minelaying Squadron based at Kyle of Lochalsh (port ZA) laying mines for the World War II Northern Barrage. When minelaying was completed in October 1943, she was retained for conversion to an amenities ship as part of a mobile naval base for British Pacific Fleet warships. She underwent further conversion at Vancouver in 1944 including installation of a movie theater and canteen staffed by mercantile crews of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary service. Conversion included a brewery to make beer for shipboard consumption. The ship had been painted grey for service in the North Atlantic, but was repainted white for service in the western Pacific. Conversion was incomplete when hostilities with Japan ended, and she was returned to Blue Funnel Line in 1946."

Photo from Wikipedia

[northeast]

That's wonderful, never thought of a Blue Flue being all white! Wonder if the brewery was still in use ....

[Whickham]

Sister ship AGAMEMNON, that was similarly converted, was at the Naval Yard at the same time being de-converted.
Following article in Shields Daily News - Wednesday 10 April 1946

Copyright of Shields Daily News