Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Nine - Pre-Victorian to the present day - even more aspects - More Moments Captured in Time . . .




◊ 1946 - 'Marjorie' - A narrow gauge steam railway engine at work at the cement works quarry known today as the lake at Cosmeston, Lower Penarth. The engine 'Marjorie' was a 2' - 6" gauge loco and together with ‘Annie’ and 'Doris' were named after the daughters and wife of Walter Cooper the former owner of the quarry. The engines hauled their trucks of limestone across the Lavernock Road for processing and I can recall the summertime traffic queue and curses as a train crossed to the cement works. 'Dragon Brand' cement was produced at the works until late in 1969. Alongside may be seen the ariel cable bucket system for transportation of limestone to the works but I believe this was unreliable and rarely used. The lower ariel photograph dates from the mid 1920's and shows the cement works, Lavernock Road, the sea beyond and the office building which were converted to be used as a well known public house. [000] [002] The locomotive photograph is dated 3rd June 1946 and written on the rear is the text : 'Marjorie' - Penarth, Wales - South Wales Portland Cement & Lime Company Limited - 2 feet 6 inches - Dawnswood Quarry, Lavernock, Lower Penarth. The photo was taken by B. Roberts with copyright assigned to J. A. Peden. Another fine record of our industrial heritage and a Moment Captured in Time from the Penarth Dock Collection. [001] [20180823] ◊ 1824 - Portland Cement - A bricklayer from Leeds here in Yorkshire named Joseph Aspdin discovered that by burning a mixture of slaked lime (blue lias stone) and clay at high temperature, 'hydraulic' cement resulted. It appeared so like Portland stone that Aspdin named it 'Portland Cement' and a patent resulted dated 15th December 1824. [730] [20190819]


◊ 1950's - 'Marjorie' - Another view of the narrow gauge steam railway engine at rest at the cement works at the South Wales Portland Cement & Lime Company Limited, Lower Penarth. The photograph is credited to the Industrial Railway Society, K. J. Cooper Collection and is held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001] [20240521]
	The maker's plate is just visible at a high resolution and it is clear that she was built in 1904 at the Hunslet Engine Company Limited at Leeds in the former West Riding of Yorkshire. Her maker's number is not too distinct, but it could possibly be No. 858. I contacted Kris Ward of the Leeds Engine Builders website [1303] who kindly confirmed the maker and works number. Many thanks Kris! He commented : - We have Marjorie down in the order records as number 858. I've visited the park at Cosmeston Lakes on the site of the works a few times and also walked along the former railway between Penarth and Barry. A Hudson tipper wagon is displayed outside the cafe with information about the works. I believe Marjorie would have been replaced by a Fowler diesel shortly after the photo was taken.