The Standard [017] of 16th September 1865 reported an incident which illustrates the human cost of quarrying the stone for the dock and tidal harbour works.

“Frightful Quarry Accident at Cardiff – On Monday evening a frightful accident occurred at Llandaff Stone Quarry, about two miles from Cardiff, which resulted in the instantaneous death of two men and serious injuries to seven others, two of whom it is almost improbable can survive.

The quarry in question is of rather an extensive description, and supplies material for the construction of the Penarth Harbour Dock. The depth being somewhat considerable, an engine is employed to raise the blocks of stone. This engine overhangs the pit of the quarry and is supported upon two large beams of wood.

As the work was proceeding on the evening in question a more than usually large piece of stone had to be raised. The engine had raised the stone some slight distance when the beams upon which the engine rested were discovered to be giving way, but before anything could be possibly done the whole structure – beams, engine and stonework, and ruins, the whole structure – fell down the pit.

Two men underneath were instantly killed, and the engine-man - who fell with the engine – was frightfully scalded. Six other men, besides the three mentioned, were seriously injured, and two of them have pronounced to have fatal injuries.

The men were got to the surface as soon as possible, and six of the survivors taken to the infirmary, where they were attended by Dr. Taylor and Dr. Reece, in conjunction with the house-surgeon. One of the men was sinking rapidly, and the death list will probably be nearly trebled.”