The view looking through the entrance of the graving dock plus a colourised version. The date is not known but is probably the late 1860's or early 1870's. ; a time when when sail power still dominated. The graving dock was never completed but the pond which was generated behind the main dock wall appears to be put to use for perhaps ship repair. A large pile of chain lies next to the railway running to the workshop at the right of the image. All the coal tips appear to be in use and the ships moored at the north quay are high in the water awaiting loading with Welsh steam coal. [120]

A number of problems beset Penarth Dock :

• 1871 - Penarth Docks. - 'In consequence of the great strike among the steam coal colliers of South Wales, nearly the whole of the coal trimmers employed at the Penarth docks are out of work. Very little coal is coming down, and vessels have to wait for cargoes.' - The Engineer [015] 16th June 1871.

• 1878 - Mr. Peter Rylands M.P. made a speech at a Peace Meeting in the Public Hall, Warrington on the 2nd January 1878 in which he stated : 'I saw the other day the following account in reference to South Wales ; and in connection with the distress there it alludes to the fact that the war in the East had cut off the Black Sea trade, and that in consequence certain steamers that regularly called to load in the South Wales ports are now prevented from doing so. It states that "Of the 500 collieries in Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire only 20 are working full time. At Penarth the docks are almost deserted, and on Saturday there was not a single vessel under the coal tips. The war in the East has cut off the Black Sea trade entirely, the steamers employed in this trade regularly loading at Penarth. Hundreds of men are said to be in a starving condition." . . . The reports I have read to you are taken from the Manchester Examiner and Times of a day or two ago.' [558]