Hodges & Hill - Shipwrights &c. - Penarth Dock.

Hodges and Hill were active at Penarth Dock during the period c.1880 to 1895. Frederick Hodges (shipsmith) and Alfred Hill were listed separately in Worrall's Directory of South Wales of 1875 [623] but it is probable that the partnership of Messrs. Hodges & Hill had commenced during the previous year or so and Worrall's had failed to update the fact or possibly the announcement had missed print deadlines. See also info page on Alfred Hill.

An invoice header for the company of Hodges & Hill, Penarth Dock who advertise themselves as ' shipwrights, plumbers, tinmen, general smiths, etc. - Lumber, Oars, Ventilators, etc., as well chains, gins, tackle, hooks, iron and wood blocks, etc., always in stock.' [001]

1880 - 81 - Butcher's Cardiff Directory - lists under Penarth Private Residents ; Hodges Fredk. G., Plymouth-place. - and - Hill, Alfred, Talybont house, Plymouth-place. [623]

1880 - 81 - Butcher's Cardiff Directory - lists under Penarth Commercial Directory; Hodge & Hill, shipwrights &c. The Docks. [623]

1883 - 84 - 'The 'Baratanach' was a wooden pilot vessel or cutter built by William Williams in 1879 at St Ives (official number 81779). Technical and configurations specifications are given as 15.49 tons; 41ft 5in length x 13ft 3in breadth x 6ft in depth; 1 deck, 1 mast, rigged as a cutter, square stern, carvel built. The cutter had served as Cardiff Pilot Cutter number 12, and during its working life was associated with at least three Cardiff pilots as owners - Thomas Rosser, E Parry and W S Williams. The pilot cutter had been onshore twice before, at Penarth in 1883 and again in 1903 near the Promenade Pier at Cardiff. In 1883, the hulk was sold by Thomas Rosser to George Hart, and by George Hart to Frederick George Hodges a shipwright at Penarth. The 'Baratanach' was re-registered at Cardiff in December 1884 by the pilot Edward Parry. Shares in the 'Baratanach' were mortgaged to members of the Cardiff Pilotage Board to secure loans (e.g. John McConnochie and John le Boulanger). The ownership of the cutter was transferred to William Samuel Williams, through a mortgage arranged with Edward Parry's wife, Mary Maria Parry. In September 1903, when the vessel sank near the Promenade Pier, W S Williams made over ownership to the salvager, diver James Binding (see SWIFT NPRN 274098). James Binding then passed ownership to his wife Mary and George Binding. At time of final loss, the vessel was solely owned by George Binding of Cardiff and was reportedly carrying gun powder. The cutter sank at its moorings off Sully Island on 27 March 1916. The ship's registry was closed on 17 March 1917 with the note that the vessel was to be broken up.' Many thanks to Coflein for the research. [071] The following newspaper report confirms Hodges and Hill repaired the vessel.

1884 - Penarth Launch - 'On the evening of the 21st August was launched from the slipway of Messrs. Hodges and Hill, pilot cutter No. 65, owned by Mr E. Parry, of this port. The vessel on leaving the ways was named 'Mary Louisa', after the wife and daughter of the owner. This ceremony, with the usual honours, was gracefully performed by Mrs Wilson, wife of Captain Wilson, of the ship 'Horsa', assisted by Miss Parry. The vessel with a party on board afterwards went out under sail, and was eventually berthed in the Penarth Basin.' - South Wales Daily News - [325] [361] - 23rd August 1884. also within The Marine Engineer [1078] [499] 1st October 1884

1886 - A newspaper report of an inquest following the death of a seaman involved in an explosion aboard a vessel in Penarth Basin names an employee of Messrs. Hodges and Hill as witness : 'William Powell, of 1, John-street, Penarth, outdoor foreman for Messrs Hodges and Hill, shipwrights, said that on Monday evening, March 29th, at 10.30 p.m., he was on the quay. The steamer 'Wotan' was in the basin ready to go to sea, and when the captain came on shore to ask him whereabouts a doctor could be found he directed him to Dr. Rees. They afterwards went on board and saw three men injured in the forecastle . . . . ' - South Wales Echo - [163] [361] - 12th April 1885.

1887 - 88 - Owens & Co.'s, Cardiff Directory - Cardiff and Suburban Names Directory lists - Hodges & Hill, plumbers & shipwrights, Docks, Penarth. ; also listed under Shipwrights, Boat Builders ; Hodges & Hill, Docks, Penarth. [623]

1879 - 'James Russell and Edward David, two sailors, were charged with wilful damage to a truck on Penarth Dock, the property of Messrs Hodges and Hill, shipwrights. Fined £1. 5s. damage, and 10s. 9d. costs. they were locked up for 14 days in default.' - South Wales Daily News - [325] [361] - 16th August 1879.

1891 - Owens & Co.'s, Cardiff Directory - Hodges & Hill, ship repairers, engineers, copper smiths, plumbers, &c., Docks, Penarth. [623]

1895 - Owens & Co.'s, Cardiff Directory - Hodges & Hill, ship repairers, engineers, copper smiths, plumbers, &c., Docks, Penarth. - Also - Kelly's Directory of Monmouthshire and South Wales - Hodges &, Hill, shipwrights, Dock. [623]

1895 - The Life Boat - Journal of the R. N. L. I. credits Hodges & Hill annual subscription or donation of 5s. 0d. to the Cardiff and Penarth Branch. [660]

The Notice that the Partnership between Frederic  George Hodges and Alfred Hill had been dissolved as of 15th day of October 1895. - Western Mail [036] [361] 16th October 1895

1895 - Partnerships Dissolved - 'F. G. Hodges and A. Hill, trading as Hodges and Hill at Penarth Dock and Barry Dock, Glamorgan.' - South Wales Echo [163] [361] 19th October 1895.

1895 - Hodges F. G. 87 Windsor rd. Penarth - Kelly's Directory for South Wales. [175]

1895 - Hill, Alfred, shipwright, see Hodges & Hill ; res. 5 Dock rd. - Kelly's Directory for South Wales. [175]

1895 - Hodges & Hill, shipwrights, Dock - Kelly's Directory for South Wales. [175]

1901 - Cardiff Directory - Hodges & Hill, Docks, Penarth ; Coppersmiths+ Engineers. [623]

1906 - Hodges, Fredk. Geo.16 Victoria road - Kelly's Directory for South Wales. [175]

Following the dissolution of the partnership in 1895, Mr. Frederick Hodges appears to have left workings at Penarth and concentrated his shiprepairing interests at Barry Docks in a new partnership with Mr. John George Walliker in the firm of Messrs. Hodges & Company, however, this company was dissolved on the 1st November 1898. It seems that they formed a new partnership named Messrs. Hodges and Walliker.

Mr. Alfred Hill continued his shipwright work in a shed at the end of Penarth Dock until his untimely death in March 1910.

The Barry wholly owned subsidiary, Penarth Pontoon & Hodges (Barry) Ltd. changed its name to Hodges (Barry) Engineering Co. Limited. This Company was acquired by the Parent Company in 1920 and from that date until 1956 carried on business as ship repairers at Barry.

A mid-1930's letterhead for The Penarth Pontoon, Slipway & Ship Repairing Co. Ltd which incorporated Hodges & Co. Ltd. at its Barry Branch. [327]

The works of the Hodges Engineering Company situated at No.1 Dock, Barry, was where I spent years 2 and 3 of my apprenticeship.