Smith's Dock, builders of the Arley and her engine ...or just Smith's Dock as they were often referred were of High Docks, North Shields, and later of South Bank on the River Tees. Prior to the company being known as Smith's Dock, a name change that came to pass in 1891, it was formerly called William Smith & Co, established in 1810 by Thomas Smith when he bought William Rowe's shipyard at St Peters, Newcastle Upon Tyne. In 1851, the company (William Smith & Co) opened its docks in North Shields. In 1907, now with its new name, Smith Dock Company set up an operation on the River Tees South Bank. Smith Dock closed its North Shields yard in 1909, in turn focussing its operations on the River Tees South Bank. Of note, Smith's Dock were famously known for preparing the design of the Flower Class Corvette, this having the role of an anti submarine convoy escort vessel of WWll. In 1966, SSmith Dock merged with Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson to form Assocciated Shipbuilders, later becoming the Swan Hunter Group.