Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Twelve - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - further aspects - Even More Moments Captured in Time - [vintage photo and postcard album] . . .


General View, Penarth - A postcard view from Plymouth Park looking over the Penarth Pier with its Bijou Pavilion just as a single-funnel, paddle steamer, departs the pier in the direction of Pier Head, Cardiff. The postcard has a post date of May 1908 and is held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001]


Penarth, The Pier - An enlargement of a section of a Rapid Photo Printing Company Limited postcard posted in Penarth during April 1909 to Daddy in Pontypridd ; the young gentleman is having 'a splendid time!' This enlargement of the postcard has been colourised. At the sea end of the pier is a fine view of the Bijou Pavilion which was destroyed by fire during August 1930. The photograph can be dated to later than 1905 but prior to 1909. The postcard is held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001]


A colourised view from Alexandra Park across to Penarth Pier with the Bijou Pavilion centre screen dating from around the turn of the century! The photograph is held within the museum of the Great Western Railway at Swindon. It captures the dappled shade of the park on a sunny day! [1334]


	Penarth Pier with Bijou Pavilion - A view showing the Penarth Pier, which is 658 feet long, at a date after the building of the Bijou Pavilion during 1907. The pier was originally opened to the public during February 1895 but it wasn't formally opened until 6th April that year. The postcard view on the left (see full image below) indicates that the pier was originally without a pavilion. The photograph above is attributable to the People's Collection Wales [048] and since the Bijou Pavilion is clearly in evidence, the descriptive text accompanying the photograph probably refers to the 1895 opening : - 'A queue of people gather on the esplanade following the opening of Penarth's new pier. The grand opening saw a large crowd gather to witness this monumentous event. The Pier was adorned with bunting, Cogan Brass Band attended the ceremony, and two pleasure steamers Bonnie Doon and Waverley were the first vessels to call at the newly opened Pier. A toll was charged for all passengers and landed goods, as well as promenaders who wished to walk the length of the Pier.'


The Pier from Windsor Gardens, Penarth - A colourised WHS (W. H. Smith & Son) 'Kingsway' series postcard held within the Penarth Dock Collection showing the Bijou Pavilion. The date of this photograph is probably early 1920's. [001]


Penarth Pier Entrance - Another colourised postcard view from the Penarth Dock Collection showing the Bijou Pavilion at the end of the pier. I believe this dates from the first decade of the century but after 1907 when the pavilion was built. Note the horses and carriages awaiting their passengers alighting from the arriving paddle steamer. [001]



Penarth. The Pier. - An 'Autochrome' postcard published by the Pictorial Stationery Co., Ltd., London and posted in Newport during February 1905 to Master Leigh Gibbs of Hannah Street, Bute Road, Cardiff, whom collects postcards! Note that the postcard photograph is of a pier prior to the building of the Bijou Pavilion. Another heritage postcard held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001]


Windsor Gardens, Penarth - Another postcard view from the gardens above the pier showing the pier prior to the Bijou Pavilion, hence, also prior to 1907 when it was constructed. A 'Kromo' series postcard produced by Blum & Degen of London but sepia-toned and printed in Saxony (Germany). This un-posted postcard is held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001]