Volume Four - An Era of Change, Uncertainty, Depression & War - Penarth Dock closure in 1936 . . .

The trade returns for the current year to May 3 reveal that the total imports and exports at the six ports mentioned have still further declined by over a million tons, or about 13 per cent., as compared with the corresponding period of 1935, of which 953,000 tons represent reduced coal shipments.

This persistent depression in the South Wales coal trade has arisen principally from the disturbance of normal trading conditions by international politics, trade agreements, and currency difficulties.

The sanctions policy in relation to Italy has been partially responsible for the total cessation of shipments which in recent years exceeded two million tons, while certain trade agreements designed to assist the coal trade of the north-east coast have injured the South Wales trade by driving Polish coal to seek markets in the Mediterranean, formerly supplied from Welsh sources.

These factors are entirely beyond the control of the Company ; and, although strenuous efforts have been made to develop the import and export of general cargo traffic through the South Wales ports and to effect economies in maintenance and operation, it has proved impossible materially to offset the loss occasioned by the shrinkage of coal exports. As the result, the receipts from the whole of the South Wales docks — representing £21,000,000 in purchase price and capital expenditure since 1923 — are now insufficient even to cover the working expenses.

In these circumstances, and the absence of any indication of trade improvement, the Company have been compelled to give further consideration to the question of reducing their dock facilities to the minimum required for the traffic to be dealt with.

Particular attention was directed to the port of Penarth, comprising Penarth Dock and Penarth (or Ely as it is sometimes called from the river of that name) Tidal Harbour. Penarth Dock was constructed in 1863, is 2,900 feet long and 370 feet wide, with a deep water area of 23 acres, and is approached through Penarth Basin, which measures 400 feet by 330 feet. The most efficient appliances for the shipment of coal have been installed, four of them capable of raising 20-ton wagons to a height of 60 feet above the water level, thus enabling coal to be shipped into the largest steamers without interruption, irrespective of the level of the water.