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

The River Taff Swing Bridge Toll Question and the End of an Era:

The toll imposed by the TVR for using their private road and swing bridges became problematic as the Cardiff Council Minutes of 1885 - 1886 record :

'Letter from Mr. J. Hurman, Traffic Manager of the Taff Vale Railway, was read before a Special Committee. He had written the Head Constable asking him to render assistance on Sunday when the Company's private toll-gate was set up on the new road between Bute Docks and Grangetown, as he was apprehensive of a breach of the peace. He promised to comply, but did not do so. A breach of the peace did actually occur. One of the Company's special constables was assaulted, and received a blow in the mouth, and great damage was done to the Company's property. A new gate has been erected at the same place, and it is stated a similar attempt will be made to destroy it. The Company therefore demand protection. In consequence of the above letter the whole Committee waited on the Chairman and Directors of the T.V.R., and urged them to remove the tolls; but this they declined to do until their right to the same had been admitted by the peaceful payment thereof on the part of the public.' [232]

The problem was finally resolved in March 1887 when Cardiff Corporation paid the TVR the sum of £5,000 in return for agreement to lift the toll. At the same time they were proceeding with the construction of the Clarence Road bridge. The River Taff swing bridge was dismantled in 1892. [026] Back at Penarth Dock, however, the remaining swing bridge continued in regular use for about another seventy years or so!