Volume Ten - Pre-Victorian to the present day - even more aspects - The Cooper family of boat-builders at Penarth and Pill . .

◊ 1889 - The pilot cutter 'Hilda' was built by Mr. John Cooper at Pill in six months with the assistance of only one boy and at a cost of £350. Her overall length was 59ft. 0in., breath 13ft. 5in. with a draught of 5ft. 0in. at the bow to 8ft. 0in at the heel.

Typically the keel would be fashioned from an elm log about 18in. deep and perhaps 40 feet or more in length. The frames were typically formed of English oak with a section of between 4 x 3in. up to 6 x 3in. These sections were often doubled up amidships to provide additional strength to the vessel. [600]

◊ 1902 - Kelly's Directory of Somerset under Pill, lists John Cooper as a 'boat & yacht and builder'. Enoch Porter was the ferry proprietor and Edwin Rowles is also listed as a 'boat, skiff & yacht bldr.' 'This place is on the river Avon, and forms an excellent pilot station for the Bristol Channel.' left : the directory lists the Licensed Pilots at Pill. [668]  [670]

◊ c.1900 - Pill Harbour - A postcard view of the harbour and some pilot vessels plus a description of the inhabitants of the village of Pill in 1755.