Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

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

Another fine postcard view of the Penarth Dock which in the 1920's was in a steep decline. The dock surface is a mirror and there is no sign of activity - no smoke, no steam and no people to be seen. In the foreground is coal tip number 7 which was indicated as 'Disused' in the TVR track layout plan of 1920 but which is shown complete only three years later in the GWR track layout - see lower plan. I'm not sure if this was an oversight or if the tip had been temporarily removed from service.

I suggest that the photo was taken in the period 1923 - 1927, possibly in 1926, when there was a general strike in the UK from the 4th to the 13th May that year. The strike was called by the TUC in an attempt to sway the government to limit the effects of recession resulting in wage reductions and a deterioration of conditions of work for 800,000 'locked-out' miners in the coal industry. As a result of the action in excess of 1.7 million workers were idle. [000] [002]

1923 track layout tips 6 & 7 Penarth Dock

Next to it is number 6 tip replaced in 1893 with a steel construction by Messrs Armstrong & Co. of Newcastle and this tip was in use in 1928 but had been removed by 1930. In the lower image showing the 1923 GWR track layout plan, the hydraulic accumulator is indicated between the tips. The rectangular features situated in the railway lines just prior to the turntables of the tips are weigh-bridges. Each truck was weighed before and after tipping to keep a tally on the weight of coal being loaded. In the mid image at the left side is a small hut in which the weigh-bridge man worked and this is also indicated cross hatched on the track plan. [000] [002]