Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - Some newspaper reports from the 1880's

• August 1880 - Penarth - Accident to a Boy - "A boy named Angove, about 11 years of age, when going around Penarth Dock on Friday morning, selling the local papers, went on board the large ship Tilkhurst for the purpose of crossing to another called the Prince Lucien, and in passing from one to the other fell between them, dropping on to a ballast boom, which was secured alongside one of the vessels. The drop from the bulwarks to the boom was about 25 feet long. The little fellow's skull was severely fractured by striking against violently against one of the mooring rings of the boom. His chest was also badly bruised, causing him to vomit a large quantity of blood. He was carried to Mr. John's chemist, and Dr. Nell was sent for and was soon in attendance. He was afterwards removed to his home. But little hope is entertained of his recovery." Cardiff Times [019] 10th August 1882.

• November 1880 - Existing Accommodation to be Increased One-Third - Raising of £15,000 New Capital - Trade at Penarth Dock - The desirability of increasing the tipping capacity of the Penarth Dock has been for some time pressing itself upon the attention of the directors of the Taff Vale Railway, who, in place of regarding the property they had leased as an incubus on their undertaking, are now looking to it as one of their chief depôts for the shipment of coal. The water area of the present dock is very small, compared with the water area of the Bute Docks, but the result of judicious management has enabled the Taff Vale Railway Company to send down nearly one-third of the total coal shipped at Cardiff to the Penarth Dock. Last week nearly 40,00 tons of coal were shipped at Penarth, and few steamers now enter the Bute Docks for bunker coal compared with the number that enter Penarth Dock for the same purpose.

A joint meeting of the Taff Vale and the Penarth directors, in London, last week resulted in agreement, under the Penarth Dock and Harbour Company will apply at the next session for Parliamentary powers to raise additional capital to the extent of £150,000 ; the company with this capital will extend the dock 800 feet in a westerly direction. Three additional coal tips, carried on the same level as the existing ones on the south side, will be constructed, the road to the tips having a descending gradient, so that loaded waggons descend by the force of gravitation to the tips, saving all horse power. Two additional tips will be placed on the north side, and worked by hydraulic pressure. The existing dock has a wharfage length of nearly 2,400 feet, with 10 coal tips, all on the south side.