Volume Six - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Select Aspects - Acts and disputes . . .

3. The construction of an embankment on or adjacent to Penarth Flats, commencing at about 1,012 yards below Cogan Pill, and extending north-wards for about 1,012 yards.

Their Lordships did not consider a local inquiry necessary in this case, being of opinion that the works cannot be injurious to the navigation and trade of the port, but, on the contrary, may prove beneficial. Their Lordships therefore assent to the same, on condition that the usual Admiralty Clauses be inserted in the Bill; that the detailed Plans of work be submitted to, and approved of by, their Lordships previous to their commencement; and that no deviation of the works seaward, or riverward, of the continuous black line shown on the Plan take place without the special assent of the Admiralty. - R. Osborne"

1856 - Ah the sweet smell of success! - a second Bill was prepared by the TVR and deposited in November seeking to build a dock on the right hand bank of the river and to amend the company name to the Penarth Harbour Dock and Railway Company in order to circumvent the contractual limitations of the agreements with the Bute Trustees.

1857 - Another Preliminary Inquiry Report of the Admiralty was issued 16th February which summarised the previous report, added new proposals and concluded:

"The Company now seeks powers from Parliament:-

1. To construct a Dock and Basin on the right bank of the River Ely ;
2. To construct a Branch Line of Railway to the proposed Dock ;
3. To run out an Embankment in front of the proposed Docks, abutting the River Ely.

The additional works now proposed appear likely to render the works which were sanctioned last Session of a still more useful and comprehensive character, and to prove a great boon to the commerce and shipping in Cardiff Bay.

Their Lordships therefore approve of the proposed works, . . . .etc etc . . . R. Osborne, Admiralty"

1857 - The Penarth Harbour Dock and Railway Act became statute on the 27th July. The Bill gave consent for the Railway Co. to operate over the entire TVR network and the railway extended from Grangetown to the site of the proposed Penarth Dock. The system connected railways to the TVR at Radyr being conveniently situated on the main mineral routes from the Rhondda.