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Stan,
Thank you so much, your efforts are appreciated! The Blake name being linked in a business sense to Nicholson is very interesting as John Blake (b. abt 1812 Berwick) was the father of Remigius (b.1836)and John married Margaret Nicholson on 21 Feb. 1830 in Bishopwearmouth. This may be the reason for the Blake Nicholson & Co name. More to explore!
The 1861 census at Ecclesail Bierlow Sheffield shows John to be a Steel & File Manufacturer and Remigius a Commercial Traveller. Their occupation had not change in the 1871 census but they were back in Bishopwearmouth, John at 10 Worcester Tce, Remigius at 9 Westbury St. Is there anything that is significant (common denominator presumably steel?) about this?
Thanks again Stan
Regards
Les

Hello,
I am pretty new to all this so feel free to let me know if I have got the protocols wrong!
My Great Grandfather Nicholas Smailes (b 1845 Bushblades married Elizabeth Buckham 25/4/1868 at Satley) lived at West Carr on the Broomshields Estate. My Grandfather Nicholas Henry ("Harry") Smailes was born at West Carr 17/10/1884. I was close to Harry and many times visiting West Carr as a youngster with him. I understand that West Carr was originally built to house the Greenwell's foxhounds which were tended by the Smailes family. I remember stories about the tree plantations one of which, Fox Covert , was planted in the shape of a running fox its brush flowing.
Has anyone any information regarding West Carr, the Smailes family etc. Any information would be gratefully received.
Thank you, Les

Hi Stan,
Thanks for your help.
The 1871 Census shows the families of John Small Andrew and John Robinson living at 13 and 14 Gibson Terrace Sunderland in the municipal ward of St. Michael. The Description of Enumeration District is unusual as all it shows is "additional enumeration book" and  "totals carried to first book" Also William Henry Andrew's birth certificate (born 21/11/1868) shows him as born at 7 Gibson Tce North Bishopwearmouth.
The 1861 Census at  North Bishopwearmouth West Ward show James Robinson (b 1784) at Ropery Walk. In the census the street immediately before Ropery Walk is "Kendle St", the street after is shown simply as "Deptford"
Where does Bishopwearmouth sit on a modern Sunderland map?
I am sorry if I am "going on a bit" but you have all fired me up to know more!
regards
Les

Hanes
So good of you to take so much trouble your efforts are appreciated. The reference to John Small Andrew's occupation comes from the Birth Certificate of William Henry Andrew (John's son) born 22 November 1868 @ 7 Gibson Terrace Sunderland.
My understanding is that John Robinson b 1815 Bishopwearmouth and James b 1821 Bishopwearmouth were the sons of James Robinson b 1784 Skelton Yorks.
Some questions for all; in the 1840s -1870s in Sunderland did the Shipbuilding industry consist of large numbers of smaller yards or were there major yards dominating the industry? For example in the 1851 census John was a shipbuilder employing 47 men and given Stan and Peter's comments about the tonnage built suggest that this was a reasonable size business.
What would have been considered a large ship during these times? Presumably yards like the Robinsons disappeared as steel hulls and steam took over requiring  larger more capitalised yards to build them?
I guess I have rambled a bit but I am trying to understand the times and mechanics of shipbuilding on Wearside during this period. Thank you all again for your input.
Les

Peter, Stan, Hanes thank you so much for your help. We are visiting Sunderland later this year with a view to researching the Robinsons and the Andrew side of the family any suggestions as to where to go (perhaps I should have re-phrased that!). Would the library be a good start?
Les