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aerial photograph of the River Tyne at the site of the former Walker Naval Dockyard in Newcastle. Today it is home to Wellstream Works ( left ) and TechnipFMC Umbilicals ( right ) but back in the 20th century Battleships were build here. The Shipyard started under Charles Mitchell in 1852. The worlds first purpose built cable laying ship, the CS Hooper was built here in 1873, something which connects past and present as the image shows a modern Cable laying vessel docked at the site. The firm was merged into Armstrong Mitchell & Company which then merged with engineering company Whitworth to become Armstrong Whitworth. Under this name some of the greatest Royal Navy ships were build here including HMS Nelson and HMS King George V. Armstrong Whitworth Became Swann Hunter in 1968 and later British Shipbuilders in 1977 but closed in the 1980s . Not much remains from those pre-war days, however the giant crane has survived and was recently refurbished so that it can go on working long into the future.
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