Women in Shipbuilding Gallery 5: Imperial War Museum Photograph Collection

What happened next?

At the end of the war, women were obliged to leave shipbuilding to make way for men returning from military service. ‘Great hopes were entertained by many women that a new profession was open to them, where they could earn good wages and where they would have some scope for their skill and intelligence’. ‘But with the signing of the Armistice all such pleasant hopes were destroyed …’ Katharine, Lady Parsons, co-founder of the Women’s Engineering Society, North-East Coast Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders, 9th July 1919 Women who had campaigned for women to have careers in shipbuilding and other forms of engineering set up the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) in 1919 to promote engineering as a rewarding job for women. WES recently celebrated its centenary and continues to support women in engineering to fulfil their potential, and to support the engineering industry to be inclusive. Women in shipbuilding in the First World War are one of the foundations for women in maritime careers today.

A female worker operating a boring machine at the Northumberland shipbuilding company, Howdon, Newcastle.

A female worker turning a naval gun barrel at one of the Tyne shipbuilding yards, Newcastle.

A female worker adjusting the nuts of a turning machine at one of the Tyne shipbuilding yards, Newcastle.

Female workers splicing cargo netting in a naval rope workshop in a shipbuilding yard.

Female workers repairing matting in a naval rope workshop in a shipbuilding yard.

Female workers sewing canvas covers on pipes between the decks of a ship in a shipbuilding yard.

A rivet and bolt collecting party in a shipbuilding yard, entirely consisting of female workers.

A female worker operating overhead electric cranes with key chains from the ground level in a shipbuilding yard.

If you have stories and would like to get in touch, please email hec.info@lrfoundation.org.uk or call in at the exhibition.

Back to exhibition home page

Women in Shipbuilding Gallery 5: Imperial War Museum Photograph Collection

What happened next?

A female worker operating a boring machine at the Northumberland shipbuilding company, Howdon, Newcastle.

A female worker turning a naval gun barrel at one of the Tyne shipbuilding yards, Newcastle.

A female worker adjusting the nuts of a turning machine at one of the Tyne shipbuilding yards, Newcastle.

Female workers splicing cargo netting in a naval rope workshop in a shipbuilding yard.

Female workers splicing cargo netting in a naval rope workshop in a shipbuilding yard.

Female workers repairing matting in a naval rope workshop in a shipbuilding yard.

Female workers sewing canvas covers on pipes between the decks of a ship in a shipbuilding yard.

A rivet and bolt collecting party in a shipbuilding yard, entirely consisting of female workers.

A female worker operating overhead electric cranes with key chains from the ground level in a shipbuilding yard.

More online exhibitions & stories

Women in Shipbuilding Gallery 4: Imperial War Museum Photograph Collection

Women in Shipbuilding Gallery 6: Historic England Aerial Photography