page_title: William Doxford & Sons
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: William Doxford & Sons / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Stern view of HMS 'Opal', ready for launch at the shipyard of William Doxford &amp; Sons Ltd, Sunderland, 11 September 1915 (TWAM ref. DS.DOX/4/PH/1/483/1). Tyne &amp; Wear Archives is proud to present a selection of images from its Sunderland shipbuilding collections. The set has been produced to celebrate Sunderland History Fair on 7 June 2014. It's a reminder of the thousands of vessels launched on the River Wear and the many outstanding achievements of Sunderland’s shipyards and their workers. These photographs reflect Sunderland’s history of innovation in shipbuilding and marine engineering from the development of turret ships in the 1890s through to the design for SD14s in the 1960s. The Sunderland shipbuilding collections are full of fascinating stories. Some of these are represented in this set, such as the ‘Rondefjell’, launched in two halves on the River Wear by John Crown &amp; Sons Ltd and then joined together on the River Tyne. The set also shows the vital part that Sunderland’s shipbuilding industry played during the First World War. William Doxford &amp; Sons Ltd built Royal Naval destroyers such as HMS Opal, which served in the Battle of Jutland, while other yards constructed cargo ships to help keep these shores supplied. (Copyright) We're happy for you to share these digital images within the spirit of The Commons. Please cite 'Tyne &amp; Wear Archives &amp; Museums' when reusing. Certain restrictions on high quality reproductions and commercial use of the original physical version apply though; if you're unsure please email archives@twmuseums.org.uk
context_page_description: William Doxford & Sons Ltd, often referred to simply as Doxford, was a British shipbuilding and marine engineering company.
context_section_description: William Doxford founded the company in 1840. From 1870 it was based in Pallion, Sunderland, on the River Wear in Northeast England. The Company was managed by William Doxford's four sons following his death in 1882. It was acquired by Northumberland Shipbuilding Company in 1918.
  It was renamed Doxford & Sunderland Shipbuilding & Engineering Co Ltd in 1961 and Doxford & Sunderland Ltd in 1966. Court Line took it over in 1972 and renamed it Sunderland Shipbuilders Ltd.
  In the 1970s a new all-weather Pallion yard was built which could build two ships of up to 30,000 tons deadweight side-by-side. The steel came in at one end, and the completed ship left from the other with engines installed and sometimes with the machinery running.
  Court Line collapsed in 1974 and the company was nationalised. It was privatised in 1986 when it was merged with Austin & Pickersgill to form North East Shipbuilders. However, the last ship built at Pallion was floated out of the yard in 1989 after which it closed as a shipbuilding yard. The old shipyard is now occupied by Pallion Engineering Limited, whilst  the former marine engine works is occupied by W.H.Forster (Printers) Ltd.
caption: HMS Opal at Doxford, ready for launch, 11 September 1915.
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