Established 1827

Speedings was first established in 1827 as James Speeding and Company, a ships’ stores merchants; they were one of the many companies formed at that time to supply the increasing numbers of sailing ships plying trade routes worldwide. This was during the heyday of British rule when we still boasted the largest merchant fleet in the world. Speedings also built up a well-respected sail repair loft. The majority of Company trading took place locally in the Sunderland and Wear area which had one of the largest concentrations of shipbuilders, ship stores and repair yards of the day.

After trading solely as a family business for many years the directors decided to amalgamate with another well-known company, David Hoseason, who were specialists in the making and hiring of tents. Thus Speedings Ltd. were formed in 1913 and premises were acquired in Whickham Street, Monkwearmouth.

With the transition from sail to steam Speedings too moved with the times, increasing the range and variety of their stores and adapting their existing sailmaking skills to that of producing ships’ awnings, tarpaulins and hatch covers for the new breed of ocean trader.

The 1st World War

The advent of World War One brought additional business to the Company with an increase in marine canvas requirements both for Naval and Merchant Vessels, as well as orders for small items such as webbing belts and canvas kit bags. Peacetime brought with it mixed fortunes for many companies, some of which did not survive. Speedings was no exception, however their strong links with most of the major north-eastern shipyards allowed business to tick over.

The 2nd World War

The outbreak of the Second World War provided new opportunities again, ranging from kit bags to providing hangar linings for the protection of barrage balloons. Many Royal Navy ships were fitted out with Speedings awnings and canvas outfits in accordance with Admiralty specifications. H.M.S. Hood, H.M.S. Kelly, also Cossack, Victorious, King George V, Triumph, Albert, Belfast, Illustrious, Prince of Wales and Sheffield, to name but a handful of the most famous that were among the many ships Speedings provided for.

Fond Memories

A past employee, Joan Quinn, clearly remembers her days at the firm. She worked four years in the fender room. “The room held about eight girls doing various jobs using rope and cork. Chippings of cork were filled into a round-shaped coarse-harn bag of eighteen inches in size, and once packed thin chips of cork were placed carefully around the inside to strengthen it. The fender was completed with a coir rope jacket which resembled a large crocheted tea cosy. The rope was coarse and thin making it hard on the hands. It came in bales, their shape reminding me of coffins.

“All the girls were expected to make three fenders a day. We sat on wooden step-like seats, working up to the top seat to finish off the fender. Our legs were covered with a large piece of coarse-harn to protect them from the rope. The room was always very dusty, brown cork dust everywhere. Friday night was cleaning-up time; the floor had to be swept and the shelves dusted. By the time we had finished dust was in your eyes, ears, mouth, and sticking to your overalls. The wrap-over overalls were dark green and made of very heavy cotton, not very nice but serviceable, and most of the girls wore turbans.

“The kapok room where four or five girls worked seemed to be a constant snow scene, kapok flying everywhere. How they managed to breathe was beyond me – some worked in there for years without any effect. The life jackets they made were of waterproof material which was orange and navy and packed tightly with kapok.

“There were many different products manufactured at Speedings; my particular favourite was the flag room, where lovely coloured materials were used. A variety of flags were made, flags of all nations and flags for ships coming in many sizes and colours. If you went to work feeling a bit down, a visit to the flag room was certain to cheer you up – it was always a blaze of colour.

“Speedings left me with good memories - the girls were a good set to work alongside.”

The above text comes from an article featured in ‘More Monkwearmouth Memories (Book 3)’, written by the Monkwearmouth Local History Group, November 1991.

Main Focus on Maritime Business

In 1916 Mr William Rodgers joined Speedings, becoming a director in 1945; his son David, joining him there in 1956. By this time, the main focus of Speedings’ work was in the maritime business, with the manufacture of canvas awnings, hatch covers, tarpaulins, covers, lifejackets, lifebuoys and the routine servicing of life rafts. The production of flags also continued throughout this time.

Fire Service Production Begins

In 1977, Camper & Nicholsons bought Speedings, running the business as part of its existing operation, only to sell it again in 1983, when Joseph Hammal and David Rodgers became directors of the company. The main thrust of the business changed again during this time as the maritime arm of the business slowed down. The experience Speedings held in the use of canvas materials was adapted to begin production of items for use by the Fire Service, with cylinder covers and salvage sheets being the main items sold.

Speedings Today

Twenty five years later, the business now operates predominantly within the Rescue services industry, with all fire services within the UK using personal protective equipment manufactured by Speedings. The product range has expanded hugely from those early days, with special focus now lying within the Road Traffic Collision (RTC) and Incident Command Systems areas. As fire services become more involved in rescue work, the range of equipment needed to operate safely has changed, and so the focus of products manufactured at Speedings has developed; to include Kevlar lined magnetic covers, sharp end protection covers, airbag protection systems and most recently RTC jackets.

The company is now run by Joseph Hammal and his son, Robert. Speedings relocated from its Monkwearmouth base to Leechmere Industrial Estate in 2003, and currently employs 27 staff. In 2004, Speedings was accredited with ISO9001:2000 status. This standard ensures, through third party visits, that the high standards of workmanship and customer service that have kept Speedings going for almost 180 years, are maintained.