Ryder and Yates designed 14 private houses across the North. 12 were built. They all shared characteristic themes in plan, form and use of materials. But the houses were specific to each client and site. The houses were generally narrow and linear in plan. Secondary spaces were housed in linked pods. Entrances were marked by some sort of sculptural element. Spaces were divided by columns or staircases. All houses had a dominant fireplace. External columns allowed facades to be entirely glazed. Roofs were always flat and animated by roof lights, canopies, chimneys and water tanks. A mixture of old and new materials were used. The Walker House (built in 1952 for Dr W. Walker) was unique in that it was based on three intersecting squares set at 45 degrees. This created an open plan (rather than traditional rooms off a central corridor). The intersecting squares produced odd corners that were used to good effect. The long sitting room (16m) had a fully glazed wall giving access into the garden. The all-glass wall at the front of the main bedroom opened onto a balcony. The rear wall was painted magenta and had a square central window. Peter Yates described this as 'an eyeglass on the world'. The house had a freestanding fireplace in the centre of the sitting room with a trapezoidal brick flue. The central heating boiler with cylindrical white flue which extended up through the open stairwell to the roof, was in the hallway with the staircase wrapped around them. The house was built in traditional materials, brickwork and timber windows, with a felt-covered mono-pitched roof. Gordon Ryder had suggested a copper roof covering but this was turned down due to cost.

The first project by Gordon Ryder's office was a clubhouse for Tynemouth Sailing Club in 1952-3. Ryder was a member of the club and there he met three of his most important early clients, Derek Damerell, J. Kenneth Stanger and James Liddell.

Tug stranded and lost on rocks.
Master: E Hutchinson
Owner: E Hutchinson, Newcastle upon Tyne
Built: 1851
Engine: Screw driven, 2 cylinder compound engine
Boilers: 1
Crew: 4

Brig ran ashore, 1865. Master: Hesham

Tug stranded and lost in wind conditions NNE force 5.
Built: 1859
Propulsion: Screw driven, 2 cylinder compound engine
Boilers: 1
Master: A S Dodds
Crew: 4
Owner: J Dodds, North Shields

Cargo vessel wrecked in wind and fog. Master: A Rackley
Owner: The Earl of Durham, Co. Durham
Built: 1871
Builder: Laing & Co. Ltd.
Where Built: Sunderland
Propulsion: Screw driven, 2 cylinder compound engine
Horse Power: 90
Boilers: 1
Crew: 18
Passengers: 6

This vessel was driven on a lee shore during one of the hardest gales, E force 10-11, squally with rain, ever known on this coast. She went ashore at 3pm, at high water, and became an immediate total wreck.Cargo unknown.
Lost: 1852
Built: 1833
Master: Cole
Crew: 6
Crew Lost: 6

1853, English brig, missed her stays at Souter Point and drove ashore.
Crew- 6

Schooner stranded in gale force 8 conditions. Built: 1805
Master: J Adison
Crew: 3
Owner: W Harty, Sunderland

Craft burned in Shields Harbour, 1764.