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

Before May, 1876, the vessels frequenting Penarth had to obtain their crews from Cardiff. Since then the main item of business has been as follows:- Number of sailors engaged and discharged in 1876, 1,900 : 1877, 2,572 ; 1878, 4,263 ; 1879, 5,909 ; 1880, 11,073. The increase this year for the nine months ended 30th September amounts to 2,203 men, or 34 per cent. over the same period of 1880." Cardiff Times [019] 29th October 1881.

• November 1881 - Emigrant Steamer at the Penarth Dock - "The splendid steamship Lydian Monarch, Captain Hugget, one of the largest vessels that has ever entered the port of Cardiff, is now lying in Penarth Dock. She is 376 feet in length, with 42 feet beam, and a nett register of 2,546 tons ; is fitted with four masts and one hugh funnel, upwards of 30 feet in circumference. She is quite new, having been launched from Mr Arch. McMillen's yard at Dumbarton in the early part of the present year, and is owned by the London Royal Exchange Shipping Company. She is constructed entirely of steel, and is built as one of a new line of passenger and emigrant steamers between London and New York. The fittings between decks are especially adapted for carrying cattle on the homeward voyage.

Every convenience is attached to the vessel above and below. There are substantial breakwaters erected around each hatch, which is quite a new feature, and is for the purpose of preventing heavy seas from breaking into the holds in stormy weather. The passengers' and officers' accommodation is commodious and handsome. There is also a superb central salon. She carries five deck officers (Mr W. H. Williams chief), five engineers, doctor, purser, a full compliment of stewards and stewardess, and a large crew. The engines are 2,500 h.p., effective, and were constructed by Mr Ronan, of Glasgow. Messrs G. Insole and Son will load the vessel with a full cargo of coal, probably upwards of 5,000 tons, for Calcutta. Her agents are Messrs John Marychurch and Co., Cardiff." Cardiff Times [019] 5th November 1881.

• November 1881 - Application to Store Explosives - "At the Penarth petty-sessions on Monday, before Mr R. F. L. Jenner, Mr J. S. Corbett, and Mr James Ware, Mr James Brewer applied on behalf of Mr T. A. Walker, contractor, for a license to store half-a-ton of explosives in a magazine, on the hill at Penarth, where it was found necessary to conduct the operations connected with the dock extension, by means of blasting. There being no opposition by the public, or the police, the bench resolved to grant the license." Cardiff Times [019] 12th November 1881.