View of the Queen Mother arriving at the Walker Naval Yard, Newcastle upon Tyne for the launch of the passenger ship 'Northern Star', 27 June 1961 (TWAM ref. DT.TUR/2/26948R).
This set of images celebrates the achievements of the Naval Yard at High Walker. The Yard was established by Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd as a replacement for the firm’s Elswick Shipyard. The size of the Elswick yard and its location above Newcastle Swing Bridge meant that by the early twentieth century it had become unsuitable for building large warships. Shipbuilding operations started at the Naval Yard in 1913 and by the end of the First World War all shipbuilding at Elswick had ceased.
Between 1913 and 1928 the yard completed 37 warships, 29 merchant ships and 30 tankers. In April 1928, though, it was placed on a care and maintenance basis. The yard re-opened in 1930 to build the liner ‘Monarch of Bermuda’ but after her completion in November 1931 had to close again from lack or orders. In May 1934, however, the yard re-opened and went on to play an important role in the Second World War. During the War the yard delivered 72 ships including a battleship, a monitor, 4 aircraft-carriers, 3 cruisers, 22 destroyers, 15 submarines and numerous landing craft.
After the War the Naval Yard was busy with merchant shipping. Giant tankers and famous passenger liners, such as the ‘Empress of England’, were built at Walker. From 1953 onwards the Yard also started building warships again, including the County-class destroyer HMS Glamorgan, launched in 1964. Difficult times lay ahead, though, and in 1968 the shipyards on the Tyne were merged to form Swan Hunter and Tyne Shipbuilders. On 15 February 1980 the containership ‘Dunedin’ was the last vessel to be launched at the Naval Yard bringing to an end a proud shipbuilding history.
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Views: 22710
A.Davey
She looks radiantly happy! That vehicle has me puzzled - it looks like a pickup truck.
Calgary Doug
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adavey I thought the same at first but on closer inspection I think the part of the car where the door is is closed the back of it is an open car. if you look at the rear of the closed section it looks to be open to the back part of the car. I noticed that the left shoe of her majesty seems to have a thicker sole. It makes me wonder did the Queen mum have one short leg and one shorter leg?
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
https://www.flickr.com/photos/tantrarub Good spot. She's wearing a protective shoe because she'd cracked a small bone in her foot earlier that month.
Calgary Doug
Thanks. I know I'd never seen that before and I'm a big fan of her and her family.
boybentley
The car is a 1947 Daimler DE36 Limousine Landaulette, hence the open rear.