Volume Twelve - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - further aspects - Report upon Penarth Dock - 1984 . . .

Appendix C - Other Shipping Schemes at or near the site of Penarth Dock

Penarth Dock and the Ely Tidal Harbour were only two of the many shipping schemes proposed for the area. This appendix takes a brief look at those schemes put forward but never implemented.

1823 - The first and most minor of schemes was proposed in 1823 by a group of iron masters who were disenchanted with the slow expansion of the Glamorganshire canal and its facilities. They proposed a series of tramways from their iron foundries which were intended to converge at a large basin built near Cardiff.

A large canal would then be built from the basin to the sea eventually coming out near the mouth of the River Ely at a point opposite the current site of Penarth Dock. This scheme was opposed by the canal company and the subsequent Bill lost.

Although it was a minor scheme it heralded the beginnings of the Taff Vale Railway Company and also the introduction of Lord Bute who was indirectly responsible for the scheme by virtue of the fact that he was responsible for the slow expansion of the Glamorganshire canal. Lord Bute and the Taff Vale Railway were to become prominent interests in future shipping schemes.

1844 - In 1844 the Taff Vale Railway proposed to build a branch line to a point near Cogan Pill and then build a dock at the site. The dock was not opposed by Lord Bute but the branch line was and the scheme was abandoned.

1855 - In 1855 Lord Bute proposed an ambitious scheme to divert the River Taff into the River Ely via a channel across Leckwith Moors and then divert the River Ely at Cogan Pill through a series of tunnels and cuttings to flow into the sea at Sully.

A large sea wall would then be built across the old mouths of the rivers from a point near Pierhead in Cardiff to Penarth Head and use the huge area behind the wall as an enormous harbour. The scheme was abandoned probably due to the cost which would have been involved.