Volume Ten - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Even more aspects - Investigation into the Condition of the Ely River Subway 1991 . . .

A 75mm diameter conduit containing a lead sheathed electric cable running from a flanged connection through the tunnel lining at Ring 42 to Ring 650 was present. The conduit was severely corroded and had disintegrated at several locations.

Twin 150mm diameter clay ducts were present beneath the footway level. Access could be gained to the ducts at small access chambers located at Rings 2, 104, 209 and 314. Due to the presence of slurry it was not possible to locate any further access chambers beyond Ring 314 or confirm the presence of the ducts beyond this point. It was thought these ducts had been installed for future use, an option that never materialised.

Toll Houses :

Only the toll house at the northern end remains. This has been partly demolished with approximately one third of the old brick structure remaining. The brickwork is in a satisfactory condition although the original pitched and slated roof has been removed and the original window openings bricked up. The Subway entrance is partly blocked by a 6.0m long steel storage container, although the original cast iron entrance arch remains intact.

The brickwork structure surrounding the initial length of the Subway before it passes beneath ground level is in a generally dilapidated condition. Part of the structure has been demolished and now supports a toilet block serving the Penarth Motor Boat and Sailing Club.

None of the original toll house structure remains at the Penarth Dock end of the Subway, indeed it is impossible to detect from where the Subway once emerged. It is probable that this was demolished when the cast iron rings were salvaged in 1976. Remains of the Subway doors were found amongst the debris in the backfill to the southern end.