Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - Activity at the docks . . .

The Western Mail newspaper [036] reported on the 13th October 1896:

"On Thursday last the steamer Kate, of Galveston, entered the Penarth Dock with 2,200 tons of cannel coal for the Cardiff Gas Company. The cargo was discharged on Friday, but it was not until four o'clock on the afternoon of Saturday that the steamer was brought into the basin and placed under the coal tips, and loading did not commence until 4.45. she was bound to leave the dock by the evening tide, which was a eight o'clock. By that time 1,500 tons were placed on board, and for the first two hours a ten-ton wagon of coal was shipped every minute; then the men, who had been racing to get in all the cargo they could, began to slacken, but when the gates were opened at eight o'clock she had 1,500 tons on board, the chutes were lifted, and the steamer steamed away to Southampton. This is said to be the quickest shipment of coal in the Bristol Channel on record."

Cannel coal is a distinct variety, which is of great value for making gas, as it contains such a large quantity of gaseous, or volatile matter but is not much employed for steam raising.

In 1884 the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in their "Visits to Works" series published an account of the Penarth Dock and Tidal Harbour: [016]

"The Penarth Dock and Basin are situated in a line with each other on the south bank of the mouth of the River Ely. There is also a tidal harbour at Penarth, formed by the lower part of the River Ely, which is provided with staithes for the shipment of coal on its northern bank. The Penarth Dock and Harbour original works were designed by Sir John Hawkshaw, and carried out under his supervision and that of Mr. Samuel Dobson. The dock extension recently completed was designed and carried out by Sir John Hawkshaw and Mr. George Fisher, Mr. H. Oakden Fisher being the resident engineer.

Penarth Dock. - The dimensions of the dock are as follows: length, 2900 ft.; width, 370 ft.; area, 23 acres. The basin is 400 ft. long by 330 ft. wide, and its area is 3 acres. The lock is 270 ft. long and 60 ft. wide. The sea entrance also is 60 ft. in width. On the sill of the sea-gates and the lock-gates the depth of water is 35 ft. at ordinary spring tides, and 25 ft. at neap tides. Being a tidal dock, at high water the gates can be opened from sea to dock, allowing immediate ingress and egress of ships, thus preventing the delay so often complained of in the shipment of minerals at other ports.