Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - Some newspaper reports from the 1870's

The hotel, which is from a design by Mr. C. E. Bernard, presents some of the principle features of the Royal Hotel at Cardiff, with the details altered as to suit the wants of invalids and others who may make the hotel a place of residence for weeks or months at a time. It is a lofty building, several storeys in height, and all the windows command the finest view of the Channel that could be obtained. On the ground floor is a coffee-room, forty-four feet by twenty-four, a perfect model of its kind, and most elaborately painted and papered, the ceiling being very prettily stenciled with gold and colours. Besides this there is a large billiard-room, commercial-room, and small dining-rooms for the accommodation of private parties who may visit Penarth for a few hours. The upper part of the building is disposed more for the convenience of visitors to the place for a longer period, and many of the apartments are arranged in suits, sitting-rooms with dressing and bed rooms contiguous. There are upwards of fifty rooms in the house, and every attention has apparently been paid to the comfort of the visitors. Over the coffee-room, which is flat-roofed and projects from the main part of the building, is a promenade for the visitors or the sick invalids, who may sit or lounge during the warm summer days, pleasantly shaded from the rays of the sun, and enjoy the view of the Bristol Channel. It also commands a fine panoramic view of Cardiff, with its mountain scenery beyond. Behind the Hotel about twenty acres of land have been laid out as pleasure grounds, in which there are numerous walks, winding over small hills and valleys, extending in every direction, and a short walk from these leads the visitor to the beach, where accommodation for bathing is provided.

The exterior of the building is without any large amount of architectural ornamentation, but bears a resemblance to the still larger hotels at Malvern, Ilfracombe, and other places. It was built and furnished by the Taff Vale Railway Company, who contemplate making Penarth one of the best watering-places in the district. A short time since it was leased by them to Mr. Dimond, formerly landlord of the Windsor Hotel, Bute Docks, whose previous experience in the management of such an establishment was well known to them. For some time it has been partially opened, but its formal opening was left to the beginning of 1870.

On Wednesday evening a large party of gentlemen, from Cardiff assembled at Penarth to commemorate the opening of the new establishment. The chair was taken by Mr. W. D. Bushell, the resident director of the Taff Vale Railway ; Mr. H. Heard, solicitor, of Cardiff, occupied the vice-chair. There were also present, the Rev-Bushell, Mr, Thos. Waring, C.E., Messrs. J. and C. Sankey, D. Jones, D. Richards, E. Davies, J. Thomas, T. Hodge, D. Lewis, F. S. Lock, S. Marks, T. Proger, W. Heitzman, J. Little, H. Cousins, jun., &c., &c. Several of the directors of the Taff Vale Railway had promised to attend the opening, but were unavoidably detained.