On 8 August 1962 I visited Sunderland armed with my new camera - a box-type Kodak, but a vast improvement on the one I had used previously. One of the several ships recorded that day was the veteran paddle-tug HOUGHTON, 133gt, completed by Hepple of South Shields in January 1904. Her initial owners were The Lambton Collieries Ltd, later Lambton & Hetton Collieries, and later still Lambton, Hetton and Joicey Collieries. In November 1945 (now that date does have personal significance for me!) she was transferred to France Fenwick Tyne & Wear Co. Ltd., whose distinctive and attractive funnel colours the HOUGHTON shows above. She was 60 years old when she was scrapped at Dunston in October 1964.

Could also be placed under Shipbuilding ... and Shipbreaking ... on the Tyne.
Ron

Another image featured in the Peter Barton slides shown at our meeting last night was this one of the HOUGHTON:
If anyone can identify the ship fitting out in the background we might be able to put an approximate date on this - prior to her scrapping in 1964.

Ron

That has to be CHELWOOD of 1964 by Bartram, then .... so HOUGHTON maybe already laid up ready for sale/scrapping.

George,

No reason to doubt you! CHELWOOD launched 10.6.64, completed 10.64, so yes probably earlier in that time frame but still in the last few months of the HOUGHTON's existence.

Ron

Kevin,

Many thanks for such a wonderful selection of views.

Ron

I have a few more Sunderland ones to come.