Volume Four - An Era of Change, Uncertainty, Depression & War - Back at the dock . . .

	A general view of the docks and the coal handling facilities taken in 1923.

There was an increase in trade at Penarth with a short lived post World War I boom. In 1923, the trade in coal export was back at 3,440,233 tons, but then a recession commenced and the total in 1925 fell to 2,453,848 tons.

1926 was a disastrous year for the port. The General Strike commenced in May of that year which only lasted for 10 days or so, however, the militant miners stayed on strike until November. 1926 saw only just over 1m tons shipped but it rose back to 2m in the following year. The longer and deeper depression which followed was the final nail in the coffin for Penarth and plans for closure were drawn up by the GWR.

	Another mid 1920's view of the coal tips at the southern side of the dock which are a mixture of the newer type steel tips and the vintage designs.

By the early 1930's, the coal trade had declined considerably, coupled with the ongoing effects of depression, placing a question mark over the future of the Penarth Dock and Ely Tidal Harbour by it's owners the G.W.R.. A report published by the Straits Times [125] on 27th September 1932 summed up the situation prevailing by that date:

"The Great Western Railway Company has deferred for 12 months the putting into operation of the decision to close the Penarth Dock, says the Journal of Commerce. The news was contained in a letter received by the clerk to the Penarth Urban District Council from Sir James Milne, the general manager of the Great Western Railway Company.