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

• September 1889 - Wails from Penarth Regarding Barry Dock - "Penarth is in melancholy mood. Her trade is affected by the rapid progress which is being made at Barry Dock, and the Penarthites speak forth plainly by way of complaint - they do not attempt to mince matters. Writing in the Cardiff Argus of Saturday last, "Pen Splutterer" says:- "The opening of Barry Dock has had the effect, as was anticipated, of reducing the shipments of coal very materially at Penarth Dock."

Another writer in the same paper complains the "The influence of the opening Barry Dock upon the coal trade at our Dock and Harbour is becoming seriously manifest. Last week several coal tips were idle all the week. Such a state of things has not been known for some time." We pity Penarth, but cannot help feeling glad that the grinding monopoly of the Taff Vale Railway Company and Bute Docks has at last been broken to pieces." Barry Dock News [140] 6th September 1889.

• September 1889 -The Influence of Barry Dock Upon Penarth - "From the Penarth Chronicle of Saturday last comes a wail of pitiful anguish. It says:- "The fact that Penarth is suffering acutely from depression of trade, consequent upon the opening of Barry Dock, is acknowledged by all. I have met with many of our dock employees, who are contemplating moving to Barry, but few of them appreciate the idea of a change. They have become wedded to Penarth. Here they have comforts such as they will never get at Barry Dock, but yet, where their work is, they must go." Barry Dock News [140] 13th September 1889.

• September 1889 - The Migration From Penarth to Barry - "It is remarkable how soon the influence of Barry Dock has been felt upon its kindred neighbours. The last issue of the Cardiff Argus states:- " Trade at the docks is deplorable, and our working population are flitting to Barry as fast as they can. Houses at Barry and Cadoxton cannot be obtained at any price, and instances are known where houses are secured, or rather lived in, before the doors and windows have been hung. Families are moving from Penarth as fast as they well can, and the prospect for the winter is a gloomy one. Nine tips were idle the larger portion of last week." Barry Dock News [140] 20th September 1889.