Prior to these photographs of 1883, which clearly indicate the extent of congestion at the Penarth Dock, a plan was put to parliament to increase its size and facilities. Ultimately, the 1878 Session of Parliament rejected the extension proposed which would have extended the dock by 900 yards on a north-westerly direction cutting through the path of the River Ely and its Tidal Harbour and requiring the river to be significantly diverted. The plans are dated November 1877 and devised and prepared by the then, Sir John Hawkshaw, F.R.S., and Messrs. Brown and Adams, the consulting engineers for the project.