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

Jones, when the work was done, sat down on the combings of the main hatch, and in attempting to rise lost his balance, and precipitated into the hold, falling a depth of 18 feet, pitching on his head. His skull was severely crushed, and death resulted on the spot. A coal trimmer saw the accident, and those on board ran to give assistance, sending to Dr. Byers, but to no purpose. An inquest will be held today. The corpse was removed to the dead-house, the captain of the steamer considering it unadvisable to send him home." Cardiff Times [019] 21st October 1882.

• October 1882 - Penarth Dock Extension - Progress of the Work - [by Ap Gwilym] - "As these days of docks and rumours of docks, and as much of our prosperity as a community is dependant upon these useful adjuncts to commerce, I thought your readers would be interested in some account of progress which is being made in the work of adding - and adding, too, materially - to the existing dock at Penarth, and which is known as the Penarth Dock Extension. I therefore made application to Mr. Henry Fisher, of the Taff Vale Railway, who is the resident engineer of the new undertaking, and he very readily accorded the necessary permission to view, and provided me with a "guide, philosopher, and friend," in the person of Mr. Page, one of the members of his staff, to conduct me over the works, and act as part of lecturer to the show.

Arrived at Penarth, I was introduced to the representative of Mr. T. A. Walker, the contractor for the addition to the docks, Mr. W. R. Parker, and together we made a tour of the works. This was on Monday. It rained on that day - not in an ordinary or even an October way. The water just fell down in buckets-full, nor waterproofs nor umbrellas were proof against the streams. I have heard of sheets of ice ; I now know that there can be an atmospheric phenomena as sheets of rain. I don't like the experience ; it wets you through and through, and does not add to one's personal comfort, nor is it conducive to good temper and strictly Parliamentary language. It was in such intervals of fair weather as presented themselves - and we were caught in the torrents once of twice before shelter could be reached - that I proceeded to note the progress which was being made, and if it is not impertinent to assume the airs and address of an authoritive inspector, I pronounce, by these letters, my entire satisfaction with all that I saw in my visit - except the weather.

The existing Penarth Dock was, as your readers are probably aware, built some fifteen or sixteen years ago, by the Penarth Harbour, Dock, and Railway Company, but the undertaking was subsequently leased to the Taff Vale Railway Company, who guaranteed a dividend of four and a quarter per cent. A short-time ago it was found - and I am partial to these portents, because they are so indicative of prosperity and the growth of commercial life and activity -