Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - A technological development of great value to mariners of all nations . . .


Marconi's wireless transmission experiments from Lavernock in 1897. A photograph of a sketch illustrating experiments between Lavernock and Flatholm Island in May 1897. The original is held at the National Museum Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru. [000] [629] [Museum item number : 68.153/2] [20190610]


As an encore, Marconi continued his wireless transmission experiments from Lavernock Point and the airwaves reached the other side of the Bristol Channel on Tuesday 18th May having been relayed via Flatholm. The above photograph of a sketch, illustrates the experiments between Lavernock and Brean Down in 1897, but which I believe to be somewhat misleading! The original is also held at the National Museum Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru. [000] [629] [Museum item number : 68.153/1] [20190610] However, Lord Kelvin is on record commenting on Mr. Marconi's achievements : 'Telegraphy without wires is all very well, but I'd rather send a message by a boy on a pony!' I could imagine that many mariners since, half way across the Atlantic Ocean and on a stormy sea, have had a smirk on their faces about Lord Kelvin's amazingly unenlightened statement!


c.1897 - A fine engraving of Flatholm showing the lighthouse etc. and the mast Marconi constructed for his wireless transmission experiments. [734] That same year, 1897, Marconi stayed at 4, Kymin Terrace, Penarth, with Mr. A. J. Marquand and family. [536]


Lavernock Point, Penarth - A view of the beach below the point where Marconi made his wireless transmission experiments in 1897. This postcard was published by Murrell's Wholesale & Retail Stationers of Penarth probably just prior to WWI. Another heritage postcard held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001]


	Mr. W. H. Preece left and above, Mr. Marconi's experiments in electro-magnetic induction using Herzian waves as discussed within the publication Wireless Telegraphy Popularly Explained. with a pref. by W. H. Preece. [1341] [499] A testimony to Mr. Preece's contribution within the book states : 'No man since Faraday's time has opened up to us so much of the possibilities of the laws of induction, or has shown more energy combined with patience in carrying out experiments on such a gigantic scale. If Mr. Preece does not succeed in beating all records as regards distance signalling through space without wires, the fault will not rest at his door.'