Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - The Penarth Dock and Harbour in 1896 . .

A Closer Look at the Importation Wharf Facilities

The article finishes at the previous page but I felt it was interesting to review the detail of the 1895 TVR map and the north quay of the Penarth Dock. For clarity I split the map into two sections below.

The explosives pier at 'E' is of great interest to me since this was close by the drawing office of the Penarth Dock Engineering Company Limited and where I spent most of the last year of my apprenticeship. I was not aware of its existence and can find no account of its use. Maybe, it was used for the supply of explosives to the local quarries such as those at the Cogan and Llandough brickworks or perhaps for quarrying (now Cosmeston Lake) at the Penarth Cement Works. Alternatively, there was an ordnance factory at Fairwater, Cardiff, I believe, so perhaps rather than off-loading explosives at Cardiff Docks and the transportation through the town centre it was maybe safer through the less populated routes from Penarth. Information would be gratefully received regarding the explosives pier.

The 5th Edition of Daniel Owen & Co's (Wright's) Cardiff Directory of June 1887 page 51 has a list of the 'Penarth Dock Officials' and a description of the dock facilities etc. [298]