Clarke Chapman is a British engineering firm, which for many years was one of the largest employers on Tyneside. The company was founded in 1864 in Gateshead by William Clarke (1831-1890). In 1865 Clarke took in a partner, Able Chapman, and the two of them developed the business into one of the largest manufacturers of cranes and other mechanical handling equipment in the world. The company trades under the names of Cowans Sheldon (railway cranes), RB Cranes (construction cranes), Stothert & Pitt (port cranes) and Wellman Booth (steel plant cranes).