Volume Ten - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Even more aspects - The Ely River Subway 1900 - 1963 . . .

Mr Taylor's most ambitious enterprise was the establishment of the Nantgarw coal mine. Two shafts were sunk there between 1910 and 1915 by Taylor's Steam Navigation Coal Company. At 856 yards they were the deepest shafts to be sunk in the South Wales Coalfield. The Company became a subsidiary of Baldwin's in 1916, and in 1923 employed 866 men.

The purpose of the Ely River Subway was to provide easy communication between Penarth Dock on the south side of the Estuary, and Penarth Harbour on the north or Ferry Road side. It replaced the chain ferry, which had operated since the completion of the Dock in 1865. The ferry could not be used at low water or in rough weather, and had capsized twice during its period of service.

But the Subway was also part of a considerable development programme. According to "The Engineer" of March 10th, 1899, the TVR Company had, because of favourable agreements with the Bute Dock owners, neglected the opportunities provided by Penarth Dock and Harbour. When a dispute arose about these agreements the Company proposed to protect itself by promoting the Windsor Dock to be sited on the tidal flats between the Taff and Ely Rivers. This proposal was rejected by Parliament, and the Company turned its attention to Penarth Dock and Harbour where, in addition to the Subway, a large area of land was reclaimed along the river bank and, subsequently, "four of the latest type of coal staithes were installed" at the Dock Basin. These projects formed the final stage in the development of of Penarth Dock and Harbour, except for the pontoon, which was installed in 1909/10.

The Subway was designed by Mr. George Sibbering, Chief Engineer of the TVR Company. Mr. Sibbering was born in Merthyr Tydfil, and in 1879 was articled to the Borough Engineer, Mr. Samuel Harper, for three years. He joined the Company in 1883 and became Chief Engineer in 1894, when his responsibilities included the oversight of the Penarth Dock and Harbour installations.

Commencing at a point on the Ferry Road river bank about 75 yards inland from the ferry landing stage, the first section of the Subway of about 640 feet sloped at a gradient of 1:9. The next section of 165 feet was approximately horizontal, and the third section was inclined at a gradient of 1:7.