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

1916 - 'The iron screw single-deck steamer 'Franco Cherie' of 146 gross registered tons was built at the Penarth yard during 1891. She was subsequently sold to British buyers for £1,250.' - Cambrian Daily Leader - 23rd March 1916. [191]

1890 - The steam tug 'Shamrock' was built in 1890 by E. Finch & Company at Chepstow but the steam engines of the ship were built at the Penarth Shipbuilding and Ship Repairing Co. Ltd.

1895 - In 1895 it was proposed to build a dry dock to enhance ship repair facilities at Penarth Dock but this plan did not come to fruition. The Western Mail [036] carried the story on 23rd January 1895:

“Development at Penarth – A Dry Dock to be Constructed – The Taff Vale Railway Company have long had in view the necessity for a second entrance to their dock at Penarth, in case of collisions or other accidents which occur rendering the existing entrance temporally useless. This would, according to engineering authority, involve the expenditure of a large amount of capital, which would be practically unproductive. We understand, however, they have overcome the difficulty by making arrangements for the construction of a dry dock to the westward of the existing entrance to the Penarth Dock, and extending southward toward the channel. The Taff Vale Company have taken a lease of the ground now occupied by the Penarth Ferry Company, upon which the engineering shops will be erected.

The Taff Company were bound to give 90 days’ refusal of this portion of the foreshore to the Penarth Shipbuilding Company, who have declined the option. The dry dock will be 650ft. by 80ft. and sufficiently large to take any vessel which can go into Penarth Dock. A company is being formed for the purpose of constructing the dock, and the concessionaires have been given until the end of February to prepare an offer for the Taff Vale Company for the ground defined by them. With a strong directorate of shipowners, the company should prove a profitable investment. As it will connect with the basin of the Penarth Dock, the new dock will afford another entrance in case of emergency.”