Introduction . . .

What astounds me is that the local community, including some historians and associated societies, seem unable to appreciate the industrial heritage of Penarth. Why is this the case? Here, in the North, it is all around us and a great deal more value is placed upon it by the populous. I'll give you a typical example of the general apathy that prevails. In 2007 the Vale of Glamorgan Council published a 65 page pamphlet entitled "Penarth's County Treasures" [134] using public monies which claims:

"We should be proud, therefore, that this version of the County Treasures survey is complete, robust and comprehensive. It is in another respect even more valuable than its predecessor, in that this Inventory has not been compiled by the local authority, but by the communities of the Vale themselves."

They state that the document was compiled "by a volunteer workforce of local people, teachers, history society members, local Councilors and other interested individuals, who gave willingly and freely of their time to reveal and record the very many items that could conceivably be of architectural and historic interest; and which, further to detailed scrutiny, research and qualification, were considered worthy of inclusion. This inventory, therefore, more than any other provides an account of what is considered of local importance by local people."

The sad fact is that not much of what is included within the document is of direct relevance to the industrial heritage of Penarth. I accept that the Penarth Hotel (557), the Customs House (554), the Marine Building (555) are directly associated. The iron footbridge at Cogan station (552), the coastguard buildings and the lifeboat station are also relevant.

The remainder (excluding pre-industrial items), is predominately the resultant of the coal trade and was generated out of the prosperity coal engendered in the town. I wonder if this is because there is little physical evidence left to remind the older amongst us or to spark enquiry of the younger generations; or could it be an attempt by some to obliterate our industrial heritage, to re-write history, to satisfy the "developer's" interests, or to glorify those who became exceedingly rich out of the sweat, blood and poverty of the doers of the World?