Volume Nine - Pre-Victorian to the present day - even more aspects - Swing Bridge Connections : Penarth Dock, River Taff and Glamorganshire Canal . . .

Another route for passengers, would have been to take the TVR train from Grangetown station to Penarth Dock but, unfortunately, you would have a long wait on that bloody draughty platform since the dock station was not opened until 20th February 1878!

In the excellent book 'The Taff Vale Lines to Penarth' [026] the authors interpret the 1861 Act as 'the Penarth Company were empowered to make a road from the tidal harbour to the Cardiff Docks area.'

William Turner's map of 1882 indicates a roadway or pathway (shown partially dotted) from nearby the Grangetown Iron Works to the River Ely ferry crossing.

I have found a number of conflicting statements during my research in this respect and I remain to be convinced that Turner's map and other interpretations are precise. For instance, Stephen Rowson and Ian L. Wright write in their fine publication, the Glamorganshire and Aberdare Canals, Volume 2, that :

'The Penarth Company obtained additional powers, through their 1861 Act, to build a road from Pier Head, Cardiff to the dock railway at Ferry Road. It was to cross the canal's Sea Lock by swing bridge and then the River Taff by a further swing bridge. The canal company naturally objected to the inconvenience of the bridge over the lock and, in February 1861, they sought the services of the engineer, John Fowler, to give evidence on their behalf against the Bill. Following the Glamorganshire Canal Company's unsuccessful opposition, their layers, Crowder & Maynard, submitted an invoice for their expenses. William Crawshay enquired pointedly whether it included fees from Fowler 'after his statement that he could not give any evidence against the crossing of the Sea Lock but that which would strengthen the application of the Penarth Co. and injure the case of the Canal Company.' [528]

I'm with John Fowler in this case. Many times in my working life as an engineer I have said things which go against those who foot the bill. In my experience it's called 'The Truth' Mr. Crawshay Sir!