Hawks, Crawshay & Sons

The firm was started in 1748 by William Hawks at the South Shore in Gateshead. His son William Hawks (II) took control of the firm in 1775 and expanded the premises and trade, foundries were bought and steam power was introduced. By 1801 the firm produced several kinds of ordnance, anchors, chains, bolts, spades and many other metal products. Due to Government contracts they had a successful period of trade, helped by the Napoleonic wars and therefore a constant demand for weapons. By the end of the eighteenth century this by now prosperous concern had its own ships to transport its goods.

The parnerships of Hawks, Stanley & Co of Gateshead and Hawks, Crawshay & Stanley of London were amicably dissolved in 1841 when Francis William Stanley withdrew from the business. He died two years later. In 1843 the partnerships were re-constituted as Hawks & Crawshay of Gateshead and Crawshay & Hawks of London.

Although not strictly a shipbuilder, the company did take shipbuilding contracts for which they would provide machinery and engines. The ships' hulls were subcontracted out to other local builders, but Hawks, Crawshay were responsible for the contract.

Hawks, Crawshay and Sons (the firm had many changes of name and this was the last) closed suddenly in September 1889, but every creditor was paid in full.