1884 - s.s. 'County of Lancaster'

"Launch of an Iron Steamship:- The launch of an iron screw steamship took place from the yard of the Penarth Shipbuilding and Ship-repairing Company, Limited, on Monday evening, before a large number of spectators. The vessel has been built to order of Messrs. Thomas Duckworth and Co., of Liverpool, and she was named the 'County of Lancaster'. She has been built under the superintendence of Mr. Robert Munroe, manager.

Her principal dimensions are:- Length 124 feet, beam 20 feet, depth of hold about 10 feet; to class 100 A 1 at Lloyd's. She has been fitted with all the latest improvements, water ballast tanks, patent windlass, steam winches; the engines are tandem compound surface condensing, 18 inches stroke, the whole of which have been built and fitted up on the company's premises with a boiler of 80lbs square inch pressure.

The model is an exceptionally handsome one, and the launch was carried out very successfully. As the steamer left the "ways" the ceremony of naming her was gracefully performed by Miss May Holman, of Penarth, amidst the cheers of the spectators." - Cardiff Times [019] 31st May 1884.