Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - The Penarth Shipbuilding & Ship Repairing Company Limited . . .

1883 - 'Iona' - 'Penarth Ferry'

The "Penarth Ferry" - "Iona" steaming from the Cardiff Pier Head en route for the Penarth Dock landing stage which was situated close by the dock offices, Custom House and the Marine Hotel - just lovely! The image above is a section of a postcard held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001]

The ferry 'Iona' was specially built in 1883 at the yard of the Penarth Dock Ship Building & Ship Repairing Co. Ltd. for the Cardiff and Penarth Steam Ferry Co. Ltd., which was owned by Mr. James Vellacott. She was a double ended paddle steamer of 64 tons gross, 32 tons net., 91' - 0" long, 18' - 1" beam with a 5' - 8" draught. The engines were built by T. & W. Hawthorn of Newcastle being an oscillating, twin cylinder steam engine. The company funnel colour was bluff, yellow or light brown but is illustrated here in white with a red cuff. I not sure if the area at the top of the funnel is meant to be black or if it is just some good old fashioned soot! She gave excellent service throughout her long life but, alas, was finally broken up in 1913. [154]