• March 1882 - Launch of an Iron Steamer at Penarth - "A most successful launch of the first iron steamer ever built at Penarth took place, from the yard of the Penarth Shipbuilding and Ship-repairing Company, Limited, on Monday afternoon. The steamer was modeled by Mr George Cooper, the chief manager of the works, and is a handsome little cargo boat, with good carrying capacity. She is 120 feet in length, 20 fet beam, and 10 feet depth of hold, and is to be fitted with inverted compound surface condensing engines of 150 effective horse power, two steam winches, other modern seawater ballast tanks, and several built to the order of Messrs Cuthbert, xxxxxx?, and Co., Cardiff, and is intended for the French trade. The christening ceremony was performed by Miss Laura Evans, of Bath, who named the steamer Venetienne. She was taken in tow and berthed in Penarth Dock, where her outfit will be completed." Cardiff Times [019] 25th March 1882.

• November 1882 - Collision at Ilfracombe - "On Wednesday afternoon the screw-steamer Venetienne entered the West Bute Basin at Cardiff for repairs. She belongs to that port, and left a week ago with a cargo of coal for Portreath. She had to bring up in Penarth Roads through stress of weather. She subsequently proceeded, and got down as far as Ilfracombe, where the steamer again had to put in for shelter, and when partly afloat and aground she was run into by the screw-steamer Yan Yean, also of Cardiff. The Venetienne was cut down right in the centre aft, but fortunately above the water line. The damage to the Yan Yean was slight." Western Mail [064] 9th November 1882.

• January 1883 - Shipping Disasters - Foundering of a Cardiff Steamer - "Lloyd's agent at Padstow telegraphed yesterday:- The Venetienne steamer of Cardiff, from Bristol for Padstow, laden with general cargo, struck on the Roxar Rock early this morning, and foundered in the Channel at Hawker's Cove, where she now lies. Lighters have been sent to her to endeavour to get out the cargo at low water. Wind south ; strong breeze. A later telegram states that, on the Venetienne being towed into Padstow harbour, she sank in deep water. The crew were saved." Western Daily Press l [022] 25th January 1883.

• January 1883 - Wreck of a Cardiff Steamer - "The steamer Venetienne, of Cardiff, Bristol for Padstow, struck on the rocks off Padstow one Wednesday morning and foundered. The crew were saved. Our Plymouth correspondent telegraphs:- The steamer Venetienne, of Cardiff, Captain Mxxxx? with a general cargo from Bristol to Padstow, struck on Roscarrock Rocks, at the entrance of Padstow Harbour, early on Tuesday morning, and foundered in the channel at Hawker's Cove where she now lies. Her crew were saved. Barges have gone to the spot where she foundered with a hope of saving a portion of her cargo which belongs to merchants and tradespeople of Cornwall, one merchant having 800 sacks of wheat on board her. The Venetienne was intended to ply between Bristol, Swansea, and Padstow at intervals, and this was her first trip. Some of the consignees are uninsured." Cardiff Times [019] 27th January 1883.

• February 1883 - Padstow - "At intervals during the week, efforts have been renewed, by the assistance of divers from Plymouth, to recover part of the cargo from the sunken steamer Venetienne at Hawker's Cove. On Friday, a barge containing some of the recovered goods, and manned by seamen and others, was making her way up the river through a heavy sea. When off St. George's Well, James Hoskin, one of the crew, was struck by the mizzen boom and was thrown overboard, and notwithstanding every attempt to rescue him, he sank and drowned. Hoskin was well-known and universally respected, and the unfortunate circumstance has cast a gloom over the town. The body is not yet recovered." Royal Cornwall Gazette [213] 9th February 1883.

They must have built steamers exceptionally well at the Penarth Shipbuilding and Ship-repairing Company because the following year the was reported sheltering at Lundy. Obviously, she would had been re-floated and refurbished possible at Penarth. >> click here to continue to the next page of our story >>