Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Thirteen - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - 'Ellenbank' - and her visit to Penarth Dock in 1885 . . . .




1888 - Launch of the 'Kinkora' of 1,999 tons in 1888, broadside into the River Ellen from Ritson's Wharf, Maryport. The vessel was of larger dimensions than those of the 'Ellenbank' being 1,426 tons net register launched in the same manner three years earlier. [1398]
John Ritson built and launched ships sideways/broadside due to the width (c.60 feet) of the River Ellen being too narrow to launch ships in lengthwise direction upon a conventional slipway as at Penarth where they used the patent slipway entering into the River Ely. The Ritson yard was situated nearby Irish Street and operated from 1828 until the onset of WWI in 1914 and they built, in that period, almost 90 sailing vessels.