Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Ten - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Even more aspects - The Lloyd's Register at Penarth Dock . . .

'Gatesgarth'
The steel hulled, single screw steamer, 'Gatesgarth' was launched during March 1900 and completed the following month for owners Steamship Gatesgarth Company Limited of Liverpool. Her managers being R. & J. H. Rea & Company also of Liverpool. She was 270.0 ft. long x 27.1 ft. breath x 17.4 ft. depth being 1742 gross and 983 net register tons. The vessel was reported missing after passing Bardsey Island on passage from Partington, on the Manchester Ship Canal, for Penarth with a cargo on coal on the 4th December 1907. She was assumed to have foundered and the Lloyd's Register was closed during March 1908. [425] Why was she carrying coal to Penarth? Only a few miles away from Penarth Dock and the Ely Tidal Harbour, is the Cardiff Gas Light & Coke Company’s works in Grangetown. They imported “foreign” coal from Yorkshire! In 1900, 18,200 tons was shipped in 2,500 ton steamers to Penarth Dock and then transported on by rail to the works. Since the coal found in the South Yorkshire coalfield was a bituminous coal it was better suited to the production of coal gas. This need for its use was gradually overcome and South Wales coal was eventually substituted and our National pride fully restored!

A Britain from Above photograph dated 1929 of the Manchester Ship Canal and the Partington Coal Basin complete with coal tips where 'Gatesgarth' would have loaded. [089] [Photo Ref : EPW027869]
'William Bywater b.1865 began his maritime career at 15 years of age on the brigs Ocean Belle, Ellen Greaves, the schooner Pilgrim and the barques Snowdon, Hawarden Castle, Rose Hill and the Glendovey, all with Borth links. In 1888 William was awarded his Second Mates certificate at Liverpool and served in that position on the barque Glendovey and then the steamer Nieto in 1890. A year later he passed his Masters exam at Liverpool. He was now 32 years old and heading for a distinguished career but fate intervened proving the hazardous nature of seafaring. In 1907 when acting as Second Mate on the S.S. Gatesgarth he and all the crew lost their lives. This vessel had left Liverpool for the short voyage to Penarth South Wales carrying a dangerous cargo of gas coal. After being seen rounding Bardsey Island she simply vanished and it was presumed that the cargo had exploded with the loss of the ship and the crew of 23. The only evidence was wreckage and a lifebelt marked Gatesgarth strewn along the beaches surrounding Porthmadoc.' - [822]
"Gatesgarth" Victim - Leave to Presume Death - 'In the Probate Court on Monday application was made for leave to presume the death of John Rochards, of Cardiff, a donkeyman on board the ss. Gatesgarth, which sailed on 3rd Dec., 1907. from Liverpool for Penarth. Mr A. J. David, counsel for the applicant, the widow of the presumed deceased, stated that on the 4th December the vessel was seen in Carnarvon Bay, and had not since been heard of. The vessel had been posted at Lloyd's as missing. Mr Justice Bargrave Deane gave leave to presume the death on the 4th December last.' - The Cardiff Times [019] [361] 9th May 1908.
£150 For a Brother - 'Mr. Ivor Bowen (instructed by Mr. J. B. Stephens) who appeared for the applicants at Cardiff County-court to-day, mentioned the case of Elizabeth Mary Turner and Margaret Amelia Turner, who at the last court sought to recover from the owners of the steam-ship Gatesgarth compensation, under the Workmen's Compensation Act, in respect of the death of their brother, who was engaged as an engineer's steward when the ship was lost coming from Liverpool to Cardiff. It was alleged that the younger girl, aged sixteen, was wholly dependent, and that the elder girl, aged twenty, partially dependent. The case had been adjourned to ascertain as to whether the sum of 4s. poor relief mentioned was paid in respect of the younger daughter. Mr. Parsons (instructed by Messrs. Maclean and Handcock) now agreed that the 4s. was not paid to the younger girl. His Honour made a declaration that the older daughter was not a dependent, but that the younger daughter was still dependent, and gave her £150, to include the money paid into court, with costs on Scale C, also the costs of the adjournment from the last court.' - Evening Express [135] [361] 6th March 1908.


1904 - New Movable Coal Tips at Penarth Basin. [599] [Archive Reference : DSA-12-2241-2 - Handbook to Penarth Dock & Ely Tidal Harbour - 1904] The R. & J. H. Rea freighter 'Gatesgarth' and definitly not the 'Atesgarth' as illustrated! In 1872 Russell Rea commenced business as a coal merchant in Liverpool. A few years later his brother James Rea joined the partnership and the name of the firm was changed to R. & J. H. Rea. They owned a fleet of five steamers, each having a capacity of about 2,500 tons dead weight named the 'Bangarth', 'Calgarth', 'Dalegarth', 'Gatesgarth', and 'Throstlegarth'. In addition to these vessels they possessed five steam tugs and about 200 lighters. Messrs. E. & J. H. Rea had shipping offices at London, Liverpool, Southampton, Bristol and Cardiff. [053]