**Please note, this entry is a work in progress as there are certainly later builders who utilised this site**

James Johnson occupied a site on the Wear at Deptford from 1814, and eventually built at least 14 vessels on the plot until 1834.

Little is known about James. He was certainly a reputable builder as his apprentice was George Short, who went onto found the famous Short Brothers shipyard. He regularly advertised his vessels in local papers, declaring his ships as "strong" and "fine-looking" and often fairly large. It's worthy of note there was a James D Johnson coal merchants who operated from Deptford from 1724, which could be either a family member or the same person who owned both. It would make sense, given vessels provided a logistical output.

The vessels were all timber powered by sail rather than engines. It appears they were sold speculative rather than through contracts given the assortments of advertisements in local newspapers. They were picked up by merchants across the east coast at Scarborough, Newcastle and Sunderland.

The site continued to be utilised for shipbuilding into the 20th century.