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 . . . .


The Maryport Dock Basin and Elizabeth Dock also showing the route of the River Ellen and the ship-building yard locations on its banks. The OS Map was surveyed during 1864 and published 1867 [010] [398] and shows a Patent Slipway entering the River Ellen which had limitations in the length of vessel that could be launched. Subsequently, as iron and steel ships evolved the Ritson's yard began launching their vessels sideways into the river prior to fitting out. The location of our holiday apartment is indicated by the blue 'X' on a road named Ritson's Wharf. Irish Street and the bridge over the river to the town are still in place to this day!


The cast-iron lighthouse at Maryport is 36 feet (11 metre) tall and consists of an octagonal iron plinth, column and lantern on top of a rusticated stone base. The weathervane atop is a fine example of the ironworkers art as well! Originally gas-lit, with a red-light, it guided many a vessel safely in and out of the harbour from 1846 onwards and its claim to fame is that it was probably the first cast-iron lighthouse in the entire country. This image was produced by AI from a daytime snap I took. I asked the AI program to modify my snap to a night-time, moon-lit, Victorian view with a red-light showing and some fishing boats moored close by! [001] [AIX]


This OS Map was surveyed and revised during 1899 and published in 1901. [010] [398] The Senhouse Dock has been built on land reclaimed from the sea. As the Elizabeth Dock trade increased through the second half of the 19th century it meant Maryport needed a larger facility. The dock allowed Maryport to handle a higher volume of local trade, supporting the coal exportation trade, the local iron industries and ship repair and building. However, by the 1920s, the entrance to the Senhouse Dock was a limitation for access of contemporary vessels and trade at the port declined exponentially.