Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - To dredge the River Ely - 1860's

The National Archives [142] hold the records relating to a contract between Thomas G. Hardie and the Penarth Harbour Dock & Railway Company 'for Excavating and Dredging the bed of the River Ely opposite Cwtch-y-Cwm, 1859.' The contract was not fully completed the reasons for which will be clarified later on in correspondence. In the meantime I would like to concentrate on the agreement with R. H. Mitchell dated 1860 'for completion of contract.'

The first document of note are the minutes of Board meetings and associated correspondence of the Penarth Harbour, Dock, & Railway, Company.

Contract with Mr. Hardie - Minutes & Correspondence

Meeting held Nov. 7, 1859.

The tenders for taking away the mud in the river opposite Cwtch Y Cwm, obtained by order of the last meeting (see page 368) were opened as under:

Resolved.

That Mr. Hardie's tender be accepted.
He is to be given understand that the Directors will not allow of the mud being thrown into the river, and he is to state in his tender the price for the wooden trucks which will be required in connection with the work.
Mr. Dobson to see that these points are duly provided for in the contract.
The contract attached.

Meeting held May 21st 1860.

Mr. Dobson reported that Mr. Hardie had suspended his contract and removed his plant from the Company's ground. That Smith & Knight's dredger was about to be taken away and that the contract could not be completed without one.