Volume Twelve - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - further aspects - Defence of the Realm - Penarth Head Fort and Coastal Battery . . .

By 1896, 90% of the coal for the Royal Navy came from the Port of Cardiff (which included both Barry and Penarth). Newspaper reports at the end of the nineteenth century were questioning the protection of these vital ports : -

1890 - Forts at Barry and Penarth - The War Office is at last becoming alive to the importance of Cardiff. It is true that there are some fortifications existing to guard the approach to one of the greatest ports of the realm; but it is not very consoling to learn that neither at Lavernock nor the Flat Holms can full charges be fired from the guns without danger of bringing the forts down about the gunners' ears. It is painfully comical to be assured that our defences are excellent as long as they are not used. But the Government now intend to build forts at Barry and Penarth, and a battery or two of artillery will occupy them when finished. It is to be hoped that this work will be entrusted to competent contractors, instead of being executed by simple sappers. - South Wales Daily News [325] [361] 15th December 1890.

Concern regarding the strategic importance of the port of Cardiff was expressed in the following reports published within the Engineering magazine v.56, v.61 and v.62 : -

1893 - The Bristol Channel - The Government is prepared to greatly improve the defences of the Bristol Channel. In all probability new batteries armed with guns of great penetrating power will be erected on the Flat Holm, Penarth Head, and possibly also at Barry. -  Engineering [516] [499] 13th October 1893.

1896 - Cardiff and the Admiralty -  The unprotected state of the port of Cardiff, (which included both Penarth and Barry) which supplies about nine-tenths of the coal used by the Admiralty, appears to have attracted the attention of " my Lords. " It is contended that in the event of war it would not be difficult for a cruiser to anchor in Penarth Roads and to shell the town as well as to destroy the dock gates, thus cutting off the coal supply. The local Chamber of Commerce has made representations to the War Office on the matter, and Sir F. Richards, G.C.B., and Sir Evan Macgregor, K.C.B., visited the Bute Docks on Wednesday, and were conducted round by Mr. Hurman (general superintendent), and Captain Rosser (dockmaster). -  Engineering [516] [499] 24th April 1896.

1896 - Coal at Penarth - On Monday 17,000 tons of coal were shipped at Penarth Dock. This is the largest quantity ever shipped at this dock in one day, and nearly equal to the average at Barry Dock, which has over four times the area of Penarth - Engineering [516] [499] 28th August 1896.