Recollections of Monkwearmouth

I am indebted to members of the Monkwearmouth Local Studies Group for what is presented here.

There are or were many many John Thompsons but in the early 1890s while in his late 70s, one particular John Thompson who had been born in Monkwearmouth and had returned there in his dotage, decided to write at least four books on his memories of the place when he was a youngster. In addition, he wrote his Memoirs in his 76^th year, entitled "What I have seen and gone through, from the cradle to the verge of the grave".

John Thompson, writer

John Thompson was born on 9 October 1817 in a small house at the top of the Causeway, Monkwearmouth, although I have not as yet found a record of his baptism. His father's name was William Thompson and his mother's name was Elizabeth whose surname was possibly Orton (there is a marriage recorded between William Thompson and Elizabeth Orton on 8 November 1812 at St Peter's Monkwearmouth). William Thompson was by profession a shipwright and also a gardener, following both trades as occasion demanded. John had one sister born before him and one after, she being the youngest. He was the eldest of four brothers, most of whom lived to a good old age. At the time of his birth, his parents were connected with Salem Congregational Church in Broad Street, now called Roker Avenue, Monkwearmouth. His grandparents were John Thompson, butcher of Monkwearmouth, and Hannah Young, his wife.

On 30 January 1831, he became an apprentice shipwright to Messrs. George and William Hall (brothers), Bridge Dock where he made the acquaintance of Mr. Robert Thompson, JP., who joined at the same time and who was later to become the owner of the extensive Iron Shipbuilding works at Southwick yard. In his early twenties, he entered in a shipbuilding escapade with three colleagues which appears to have attracted much attention in the Sunderland and Monkwearmouth area in 1839/1840 with the launching of their ship from the top of Palmer's Hill. Shortly afterwards, he left the area with two of the colleagues and did not return until his retirement.

John Thompson's Books

Three of John Thompson's books were lent to me as negative photographs, not easy to read and even worse when photocopied. The photograph of John Thompson (above) is taken from the cover of one of the books, and it appears also on the cover of his memoirs. I have re-typed the bookd and the texts can be found on the following pages.

Recollections of Old Monkwearmouth - Men of Mark

In which John Thompson talks about some 21 "men of mark" who lived in Monkwearmouth in the early 1800s, mainly in the Church Street, Dundas Street and Whitburn Street areas.

Old Monkwearmouth and Its Surroundings

In which the reader is given a tour of Monkwearmouth from the Wearmouth Bridge through various public houses to the churchyard of St Peter's.

River Weir Bridge, as presented on the cover of John Thompson's Old Monkwearmouth and Its Surroundings

Recollections of the Four Hills on Monkwearmouth Shore

In which are described what occurred on The Meeting Hill, Palmer's Hill, Cage Hill and Look Out Hill. This is where there is a graphic account of the building and launching of a coasting vessel from the top of Palmer's Hill by John Thompson and his three young shipwright colleagues during 1839 and early 1840.

The fourth book was a photocopy.

Present and Past History of The North Sands Shipyards

In which John Thompson describes the various shipyards which existed on the river Wear between 1823 and 1891, with special emphasis on J.L. Thompson. This period sees the demise of the wooden vessel to be replaced by iron and eventually steel. The book also describes the riot at Sand Point in 1823.