Robert Jewitt Boatbuilders

Jewitt Boatbuilders were based on the Tyne and were a well-known company producing some of the finest racing boats for the region and nationally. Thomas Swaddle had been employed in the business as Robert Jewitt's foreman before he left to set up a rival boatbuilding company Swaddle & Winship in partnership with William Winship

14th April 1868:
The Newcastle Daily Mail reported:
Yesterday afternoon the members of the Northern Rowing Club held a procession on the Tyne, and afterwards proceeded to Mr Jewitt’s, Dunston, to witness the launch of the beautiful racing boats, built by that far-famed builder. The occasion was one of much pleasure, and when the really excellent boats had been placed in their element the rowers could not suppress feeling of satisfaction and pride that such craft were to grace their shed at Low Elswick. The names of the boats are the Sprite and the Ariel, and were manned respectively by Messrs Blenkinsopp and Wakefield (stroke), and Messrs Best and Forbes (stroke). Beyond the mere trying of the boats nothing took place; however, this afternoon there will be several races between the members in the boats aforenamed.

2nd August 1870
Newcastle Daily Chronicle reported on a new fine four oared boat built by Robert Jewitt for Tynemouth RC, based on the model of the “Tyne”, which was the boat Jewitt built for Renforth’s crew in 1869 (Renforth book P75-80). This is relevant because he also built a very fine boat for South Shields RC, perhaps around the same time or soon after, which they later loaned to Renforth’s crew in 1871. See account of Tyne Regatta 1871.

17th June 1871
Newcastle Daily Chronicle. Detailed account of second day of the Tyne Regatta, including H. Chapman racing and also SSRC lending their fine Jewett four oared boat to Renforth and his crew, who triumphed in the professional four oared race.

13th August 1881
Bell's Life reported: Lawder and Shaw - A new open boat for the use of Lawder of Sunderland for his match on the Wear, on the 27th August, against Shaw, of the same place, was launched on Wednesday afternoon from Mrs. Jewitt's Boatbuilding works, Dunston, and was christened "The Deptford" by Mr. John Cummins of the Newcastle Arms, Deptford. Lawder had a few sharp bursts of speed in her, and the craft appeared to carry him well, while he was much pleased with his new purchase. She is built of cedar and is fitted with a 28 inch slide, swivel rowlocks etc., her dimensions being as under: Length 24 feet, Beam 17 1/2 inches, height amidships 8 inches, height at the stem 8 1/2 inches and at the stern 8 inches.