South Shore, Headlam's shipyard

In the second half of the 18th century the shipbuilding industry at Gateshead was dominated by the Headlam family, who had a yard at South Shore. There were various other South Shore yards, but by the end of the 18th century the industry was being concentrated down river although the Gateshead firms continued for a while longer. In the 1820s there was a sharpening of the distinction between ship and boat building. Boat builders remained at Hillgate, while the ship builders grouped at Friar's Goose.