Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - The construction of the dock . . .


1865 - No 7 - Entrance to graving dock. - A great view of the robust masonry work of the graving dock that was never completed. Could the two gentlemen posing, complete with stove-pipe hats, be Messrs Hawkshaw & Dobson, Engineers I wonder? In the top left hand corner of the photograph someone has written 'Copy for Mr. Dobson'. The lower enlargement has been colourised. [599] [archive ref : DXPD-6-7] [20170903] The Minutes of the Board of Directors of the Penarth Harbour, Dock and Railway Company has the following relevant entry : '30.11.1863 : Resolved, that the Penarth Company only undertake to construct at present the entrance to the Graving Dock, leaving the making of the Dock itself for future consideration.' The matter was also reconsidered sometime later by the Board, hence the note in the Minutes stating : '20.3.1865 : Building of Graving Dock deferred.' [701] [Cathays Heritage Centre Ref : L:385 EXT]



	1867 - An advertisement published within The Railway Times and Joint-Stock Chronicle [1097] [499] 23rd February 1867. Notice - to Shipbuilders and others - Penarth Dock and Tidal Harbour. The Taff Vale Railway Company are prepared to Let Land to and receive offers from parties prepared to construct and work a Graving Dock inside Penarth Dock; also Gridirons and Shipbuilding conveniences on the bank of the River Ely. Further information may be obtained by application to the Company's Engineer - Edward Kenway, Secretary, Taff Vale Railway Offices, Cardiff, 18th Feb., 1867.

1870 - Movement for a Graving Dock at Penarth - 'The shareholders of the Penarth Harbour Dock and Railway Company, at their half yearly meeting, held last week, wished to know what the directors were doing with regard to a graving dock, the want of which was a serious obstacle to the success of the undertaking. The chairman agreed with the remarks made as to the importance of a graving dock at Penarth ; but that propriety could not undertake the work, as the works had been leased to the Taff Vale Railway Company, and it must be done by them out of their own capital. He had no objection to the Taff Vale Company being urged to carry out the work, because he thought the thing was self evident, and that the graving dock was of the greatest importance. When the dock was constructed, a place had been left for the gates, and the graving dock was provided for.' - Engineering [516] [716] 11th March 1870.