Remembering The Past has been working on a long term project to explore and record the stories and experiences of women who were employed in the Tyne & Wear Shipyards during the period from the First World War, up to the closure of many of the yards in the 1980s. Through recording and sharing these stories, we aim to shine a light on the women who worked in a male dominated industry during periods of great national and social change.
Women in Shipbuilding
In 2023/4 we partnered on a project led by Historic England and funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, which focussed on uncovering the stories of women who worked in the shipbuilding industry in the North East during the First World War. To find out more and browse our collection here: Women in Shipbuilding in the First World War
Primary school pupils at the Wallsend Forum pop-up exhibition
The drawing office at Swan Hunters
In 2024 we received funding from the Frederick Milburn Trust for a 1 year project to further develop our collection through examining the experiences of women in the shipyards from the 1940s to the 1980s. You can find out more about the project and look through the stories and memories here: Women in Shipbuilding 1940s – 1980s
Browse our memories and reactions to the exhibition by following the links above. If you have a female ancestor who worked in the North East shipyards during these times, then please get in touch with us via our Contact Us page. We would love to add their story to our collection.