Volume Four - An Era of Change, Uncertainty, Depression & War - The Penarth Dock Engineering Company Limited . . .

Thanks again to Richard Weeks for this potted history of the Company which continues after this short newspaper advertisement from April 1954 which invited applications for the post of General Manager at the works:-

'Penarth Pontoon, Slipway and Ship Repairing Co. Ltd. invite applications for the position of General Manager; salary according to age and experience. - Full particulars should be addressed to the Chairman, at the Company's Offices, Penarth Dock, Cardiff.' - Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer [231] 10th April 1954.

Due to the decline in coal shipments and the resultant decrease in the number of vessels requiring the services of the Company it was decided in 1956 to cease ship repairing and commence general engineering. The Company had to acquire plant and equipment as necessary to cope with the new field of business.

Fownes Forge & Engineering Co (1928) Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary was taken over by Penarth Pontoon in 1942. This Company was mainly engaged in the manufacture of rope attachments and operated at the East Dock at Cardiff. Upon the expiry of the lease in May 1967 the Cardiff works was closed and the necessary retained plant was transferred to Barry and now occupies a portion of the premises also used by Hodges. While they still carry out a small amount of the rope attachment business they are mainly light general engineers."

"Penarth Heating Engineers Ltd. This Company, which manufactures steel panel radiators for small bore central heating, was purchased from E. Sorvils (Engineers) in December 1962 and has had a somewhat chequered existence since that date."

"Members of the Board"

"The Chairman of the Company is Mr. K. W. C. Grand, M.INST T. who is also the Deputy Chairman of Coast Lines Ltd.
The Managing Director is Mr. A. H. Weeks, M.R.I.N.A., M.Inst. B.E.
The Secretary is Mr. J. T. Pilcher."