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

Captain E. Tidmarsh, of the ship Bay of Naples, arrived at Singapore on September 18, reports :— " We anchored hero (Singapore) to-day, ninety-six days from Penarth, of which twenty-four were occupied from Sunda. On arrival there (on August 21) ashes were teeming in torrents, so I stood south for twelve hours, then came north again, but found things getting worse. Accordingly stood south once more until weather settled. All one day it was as dark as the grave, and pumice-stones and ashes were still coming down. On getting to the Straits came through a bank of ashes, and could only force the ship half a mile an hour (thus taking five hours). When once I got into clear water, I was all the remainder of the day sailing through dead bodies of men and women. Was two days off Anjer, which is a heap of ashes." - The Annual Register for 1883 [1089] [499] 1884.

• November 1883 - Marine Patents - Applications - "Number 4425 - George Taylor, of Penarth, “Improvements in apparatus for transferring coal from railway waggons to vessels.”— Dated September 15, 1883. - The Shipping World [966] [716] November 1883.

• November 1883 - Marine Patents - Applications - "Number 4429 - George Taylor, of Penarth, “Improvements in apparatus for use in loading vessels with coal.”— Dated September 15, 1883." - The Shipping World [966] [716] November 1883.

See also Chapter 'Patent Applications by George Taylor, of Penarth, 1883'.

• November 1883 - Penarth Local Board Monthly Meeting - "The draft of an agreement was read by the Clerk between the Penarth Board and Taff Vale Railway Company for the construction of a new road near the Penarth Dock Station to join Windsor-road, and also to construct a subway from Maughan-street to the docks, on the Penarth Board paying to the company the sum of £100 ; the road will be 35 feet wide, and properly metalled, etc. The agreement was approved of, and the meeting separated." - Cardiff Times [019] 25th August 1883.

• November 1883 - Keeping Dynamite and Powder Without a Licence at Penarth - "Henry Millward was charged at Penarth with keeping a quantity of dynamite and powder in a small barrel at the new Brick Works, Cogan Pill, without a licence. The case was proved by Inspector King. Defendant said it was used for blasting, and he was not aware it was necessary to have a licence. The inspector said there was about 3lbs. of dynamite, but defendant stated there was not more than 1½lbs. Fined 10s. with costs." - Weekly Mail [067] 17th November 1883.