Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - Some newspaper reports from the 1880's

• September 1880 - Penarth Dock Harbour & Railway - Repairing Ships at Penarth - "At the half yearly meeting of the company it was discussed that the Taff Vale Company, a year or two ago, gave sanction to a private company constructing at the Penarth dock a slip or gridiron for repairing vessels. The slip was opened on the 15th May last year, and from that time to the close of 1879, 56 ships with a register tonnage of 42,000 tons, had been on this gridiron for repairs ; and from the 1st of July of the present year to the 30th June, 60 ships with a register tonnage of 48,000 tons, and from the 1st July to the 21st August, 29 ships with a register tonnage of 22,000 tons. Altogether 145 ships, with a register tonnage of 113,545 tons, had availed themselves of the repairing facilities at this dock since the 15th May last year. The actual cargoes carried by these vessels he had not ascertained, but they might fairly assume that 150,000 tons of coal had been shipped at the dock that, but for these facilities would have been shipped elsewhere. Now that the results of these facilities were being known, it was only to be regretted that they were not commenced long ago (Hear, hear.)" Cardiff Times [019] 4th September 1880.

• September 1881 - Penarth Dock - "The quantity of coal shipped at the above place for the last month was 153,237 tons, and at the Penarth Tidal Harbour, 19,558 tons.

The Penarth Dock Extension Works was commenced on Monday, and will be proceeded with all possible despatch. Mr. Walker is the contractor, who is just completing the new docks at Swansea, and Mr. H. O. Fisher has been appointed the resident engineer.

The electric light has again been used at the dock gates, and gives great satisfaction in the working of ships in and out of dock at night. We hear that the dock company intend erecting two more lights." Cardiff Times [019] 24th September 1881.