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

1856 - In 1856 a group of wealthy and influential industrialists proposed a tidal harbour which was to be built on the north bank of the River Ely. This scheme was implemented and became the Penarth Tidal Harbour in 1857.

The harbour scheme of 1856 was expanded to include a dock on the opposite bank of the river. This became Penarth Dock which was opened in 1865.

1874 - In 1874 demands were made to extend the dock at Penarth due to the demand created by the rapidly growing coal trade. It is interesting to note that as part of their agreement with the landowners the dock company had the option to build a second dock at Penarth when the output of the original dock reached a certain level.

This level was exceeded but the option for a second dock was never taken up. Instead an extension was designed, work started in 1881 and it was opened in 1884.

1896 - In 1896 the Taff Vale Railway Company proposed to build a huge dock on reclaimed land between the River Ely and the River Taff. The dock was to be called the Windsor Dock and was designed to be able to handle any vessel then afloat or on the drawing board.

It was to have a area of 112 acres, a lock 1,000 feet long and have room inside to allow vessels of 1,000 feet in length to turn with ease. The Bill for the construction of the dock was not passed by Parliament and the scheme abandoned.

1897 - In 1897 another similar scheme to the Windsor Dock was proposed by Lord Bute. Little is known of this scheme except that it did not succeed.

Another scheme in 1897 was also proposed by Lord Bute and it involved straightening the River Ely all the way from the mouth up to the paper mills. (at Ely) This scheme would have produced a large area of reclaimed land on the side of Penarth Dock. This scheme was also abandoned.

1899 - In 1899 the final shipping scheme was proposed by the Taff Vale Railway and involved an altered version of the Windsor Dock scheme. It was only to be of 77 acres in extent and was to be placed further inland. Again this scheme was rejected by Parliament.