Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Two - The Era of Optimism, Investment & Development - Some broken records and repairs . . .


The "Terra Nova" leaving Cardiff under tow of the 'Falcon' tug on the 15th June 1910 with Penarth Head in the background. The S.S. "Terra Nova" was headed south to Antarctica with members of the British Antarctic Expedition on board. She was later joined by Captain Robert Falcon Scott who determined to be the first at the South Pole. [025] [151]

A photo taken by George Wehrley of Penarth of Captain Scott and Officers aboard the 'Terra Nova' in 1910. [025] [151] [395]

'Departure of the 'Terra Nova' from Cardiff June 15 1910' - The 'Terra Nova' off Penarth Head, escorted by tugs and the paddle steamers 'Ravenswood' and 'Devonia'. The day-trippers didn't go as far as the South Pole, just to Barry and back! Another excellent photograph from George Wehrley of Penarth. [331] [395]
	Figure Head of the Terra Nova, Roath Park, Cardiff. [000] [002] [20210124] On arriving at the geographical South Pole in January 1912, Scott and his party discovered they had been beaten by the Norwegians, led by Roald Amundsen. On the return trek back to base camp, the expedition was ill-fated and all members of the expedition perished. The "Terra Nova" returned to Cardiff three years later and continued to support polar exploration until she was lost in 1943 when on a supply mission to aid an Arctic expedition. More recently, there are claims that the remains of the ship have been located off the coast of Greenland.


The South Polar Expedition : Captain Scott and his exploration ship "Terra Nova". A postcard held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001]


Binnacle used in the British Antarctic Expedition 1910-1913 - on loan from the Royal Navy with the assistance of the Captain Scott Society - as displayed at the Pierhead Building during a visit to Cardiff Bay during October 2023. [001]

Mr. W. A. Fisher, B.E.M., recalls in his booklet 'Old Cardiff and Reminiscences' [1367] : ' I well remember the Terra Nova at Cardiff in 1911, when certain repairs were executed, seeing the red lead paint on the new funnel that had been shipped. She took on coal at Maloney's tips in the East Dock, and an old friend of mine was the top man on the tip loading coal into her. His name is Mr. John Mills. He is still " going strong ", and if your enquired at the Cardiff Athletic Club for him you would find a very jovial and popular man. The Terra Nova left Cardiff for London, where she was to pick up Captain Scott, and sailed on that eventful voyage to the Antarctic in 1911.'