J.L. Thompson and Sons Facts for Kids

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J.L. Thompson and Sons
North Sands shipyard of J.L. Thompson & Sons, May 1950.
Former type	Private
Industry	Shipbuilding
Fate	Merged with William Doxford & Sons
Successor	Doxford and Sunderland Shipbuilding and Engineering
Founded	1846
Defunct	1961
Headquarters	River Wear, Sunderland

J.L. Thompson and Sons was a famous company that built ships. Their shipyard was located in Sunderland, England, right on the River Wear. They built ships for a very long time, from the mid-1700s all the way until the 1980s! One of their most famous creations was the "Liberty Ship," a special type of cargo ship.

The Story of J.L. Thompson & Sons
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The Story of J.L. Thompson & Sons

How the Shipyard Began

The Vencedora ship launching in April 1860.

Robert Thompson started J.L. Thompson and Sons. He was born in 1797. His father was a "Master Mariner," which means he was an experienced ship captain.

Robert loved the River Wear as a boy. He played among the "keels," which were flat-bottomed boats. At 18, he became an apprentice shipwright. This meant he was learning how to build and repair ships.

Evenings, Robert taught himself draughtsmanship (ship design) on his kitchen floor. By age 22, he had already built several small boats.

Robert Thompson's First Steps

In 1820, Robert first worked at North Sands. He teamed up with seven friends. Together, they built a 12-keel vessel in just six weeks.

Seventeen years later, Robert started his own company. He worked with his three sons, who were also shipwrights. Their first company was in Washington Stays.

But a difficult time called the "depression" hit Britain. This caused Robert's first company to fail. His sons had to find jobs elsewhere.

Robert didn't give up! He started his company again on February 13, 1846. This time, it became a huge success.

Building a Reputation for Quality Ships

North Sands became the new home for Robert Thompson & Sons. They started with only eight workers. Their first ship was a brig named Pearl. It was 12 keels big. They built it in just 11 weeks, starting work at 4 AM every day!

The Pearl made a profit of £300. This helped the shipyard become known for building good ships. Their first official ship, Vencedora, was built soon after.

A special brochure from 1946 described the launch of Vencedora. It said there was "great rejoicing." Young apprentices followed an old tradition. They would jump into the water once the ship was safely launched. Carpenters even got extra beer for their hard work!

New Leaders and Iron Ships

In 1853, Robert Thompson senior and his sons, Robert junior, Joseph, and John, formed a partnership. Soon after, Robert senior, Robert junior, and John retired. Joseph Thompson quickly took charge.

Joseph was already good at designing ships. He worked hard to grow the business. His own sons, Robert and Joseph, joined him a few years later.

A big change happened in 1870. That year, the last wooden ship was built at North Sands. It was named Peace to celebrate the end of the Franco-Prussian War. Iron ships were becoming much more popular.

The age of steamships meant less need for masts, ropes, and sails. Thompson's shipyard had to change. They prepared to build metal ships. In 1871, after these changes, the company's name became Joseph L Thompson.

Growth and Challenges

By 1880, the company owned the entire North Sands area. Seven other shipyards had been there before. Four years later, they launched their 100th ship!

As the company grew, Joseph Thompson senior and junior became ill. Joseph senior died in 1893. His son had to retire. The business then went to Robert Thompson, Joseph's oldest son. Robert was known across the country for his shipbuilding skills.

In 1896, the company celebrated its 50th birthday. They launched ship number 336 in January. This ship weighed 4,932 tonnes. It was about 396 feet (121 m) long. This was huge compared to the first Pearl, which was only 80 ft long (24 m).

World Wars and New Designs

During World War I, Thompson's built cargo ships and ships for the British Navy. King George V even visited in June 1917 to praise their work.

After the war, a tough time called the Great Depression hit. In 1923, for the first time ever, Thompson's didn't launch a single ship all year. They got some orders the next year, but the "Hungry Thirties" brought hard times again. Only a small number of workers stayed on.

After almost four years of little work, the company decided to find new ways to build ships. They wanted cheaper production and better ship designs. Major Robert Norman Thompson and his son, Robert Cyril Thompson, led this research.

Their work led to a new, special ship design: the Liberty Ship. The first ship built with this design was Embassage, launched in 1935. It caught a lot of attention from ship owners. Soon, new orders poured in!

The cargo ship Eastern Glory after launch from the North Sands shipyard of J.L. Thompson & Sons Ltd, 12 April 1949

In 1938, the largest ship ever built at North Sands was launched. It was an oil tanker called Sandanger. Soon after, World War II began, and the shipyard focused on war work.

During the war, workers built 40 vessels. This was a very impressive number! Many important people visited the shipyard. These included King George VI and the Queen, Mrs. Winston Churchill, and the Duke of of Kent.

However, Hitler's Luftwaffe (German air force) bombed the site twice in May 1943. One ship sank, and the joiners’ shop was badly damaged.

In 1946, Britain was at peace again. Thompson's staff celebrated their 100th anniversary. A statement in their anniversary brochure said they still aimed to "give the best and deliver ships of the highest quality."

Expansion and End of an Era

In their 100th year, Thompson's bought the nearby shipyard of John Crown & Sons Ltd. This allowed them to build even larger and faster ships.

In the 1960s, Thompson's spent millions of pounds. They wanted to build ships up to 150,000 tons! Workers built bigger and bigger ships for the next two decades.

Eventually, the shipyard was put on hold until 1986. That year, the ITM Challenger was built. Today, the old shipyard site is home to the University of Sunderland and the National Glass Centre.

J.L. Thompson and Sons facts for kids

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