Volume Four - An Era of Change, Uncertainty, Depression & War - Closure of the dock in 1962 . . .

However, the same  Shipping List for 5th March 1962 [001] indicates that the Penarth Dock and Basin are "CLOSED". Also there are no vessels listed therein. Some local historians refer to the date of closure as 1963, but I respectfully suggest that the document above and in my possession, provides the necessary evidence of the actual status of Penarth Dock and Basin as at March 1962 and perhaps the news was somewhat slow to travel all the way up the hill to the offices of the Penarth Times!

The Annual Report and Accounts for the British Transport Dock Board [200] for the year ended 31st December 1963 has a list of harbours transferred to their ownership by the Transport Act, 1962 and confirms that under the 1962 Act, Penarth is "Closed for traffic" together with Alloa, Bo'ness, Burry Port and Charlestown. The date of intended closure by the British Transport Commission of the Penarth Dock is stated as 31st October 1961 within Lloyd's List, Law Reports [1963, Vol.1] in respect of Penarth Dock Company v Pounds. [856]

However, the Ely Tidal Harbour, or more precisely the petroleum wharf, remained open with 222,920 tons of inward cargo during 1962 and 222,177 tons in 1963. A note at the foot of the page states "The petroleum and shipping traffic shown above is handled at Penarth Harbour at leased premises outside the Dock, which is now closed." [200]