Volume Ten - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Even more aspects - Darwinian Connections . . .

Charles Darwin's (image left - c.1878) theory of evolution through natural selection is considered to be the basis of evolutionary theory, the essence of which was published during 1859 within his book 'On the Origin of Species'. His theory of the history of life on earth was under close scrutiny, especially by the church, simultaneously as the coal export trade of South Wales evolved. Investigation for this website has revealed another interesting aspect of Charles Darwin's activities to be considered within the evolution of the Penarth Dock and Ely Tidal Harbour i.e. human family connections and the technical development of mankind via the industrial revolution. Okay, I know that many have since claimed Darwin's theory incorrect and even during the 1970's, I recall the discovery of a new group of organisms, the Archaea, which added yet another dimension to the ever evolving theory of life on planet earth.

However, it is not theoretical evolution that is the subject of this chapter, but the use of the wealth generated by Mr Darwin to facilitate the development of our tidal harbour and fine dock but which also reveals some famous family connections.

Our story commences with the engineer and designer of the Penarth Dock, Mr. John Hawkshaw who was working in Venezuela during the period 1832 to 1834 which overlapped Charles Darwin's voyage aboard H.M.S. 'Beagle' in the years commencing 1831 to 1836.