Volume Two - The Era of Optimism, Investment & Development - Some reports

In December 1906 The Western Times [056] reported:

“Penarth Hermit Arrested - Samuel Baldwin, who for some time past, has lived on the shore at Penarth, occupying a cave which formed the entrance to an abandoned alabaster mine, has been arrested on a warrant for neglecting to maintain his wife. He had improvised in his cave a cooking stove of old cans. He worked in the neighbouring docks at odd times, but rabbits and birds, which he trapped, and the contributions of visitors chiefly enabled him to keep a sufficiency in his larder.”

The Maritime Review [059] of 11th January 1907, a publication notable in that it seldom mentions Penarth since it was clearly a mouthpiece for the Bute interests at Cardiff, attempted to ridicule Penarth in the following article:

“The cold weather has come and gone, and is coming again. Well, its this way. Cold weather affects the hydraulic pipes by which the tips at Penarth docks are manipulated. Anyhow, such was the case during the last spell of frost. Now, you might happen that water circulates through those pipes, and that water freezes. Some more or less asinine individuals would have us believe that during the next cold wave, the authorities intend to circulate whiskey with that water. We don't believe it; it's just another frost!

But the view of the fact that unless the tips can be worked, there is going to be trouble in the air, our hydraulic expert has suggested that hot water pipes should be used! Indeed, we have been assured that the heat from the language flitting about “over there” on a cold day, would suffice to make the coldest of waters bubble. Perhaps you have never visited Penarth docks? Personally, we've had one or two queer experiences in that quarter.

It is quite easy to bring back to memory the time when a tugboat and a steamer were jammed in the lock. The hydraulic pipes were not frozen on that occasion; in fact we helped to carry the ice necessary to keep them cool – Penarth air and language again! But better luck, next cold snap – and less delayed tonnage.”