Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Two - The Era of Optimism, Investment & Development - The demise of H.M.S. Exmouth at Penarth Dock - 1905 . . .



	H.M.S. Hamadryad was towed from Plymouth and berthed in Cardiff East Dock to serve as a seamen's hospital opened in November 1866. Built at Pembroke Dock and launched in July 1823, she was a 5th rate, 46 gun, warship at just over 1,000 tons gross with a length of 152 feet and a beam of 46'-6". [366] The lower of the two images above illustrates 'Hamadryad' in 1906 complete with her figure-head which was held as an exhibit at the former Welsh Maritime Museum, Cardiff. The figurehead was carved in wood by Dickerson of Plymouth and cost £8. [120] The figurehead [left] of the H.M.S. Hamadryad built between 1819 and 1823. Following her launch at Pembroke Dock in 1823 she was towed to Portsmouth for completion. It is believed that the figurehead was installed at Portsmouth because the Royal Navy had a figurehead carving workshop at Portsmouth. Prior to the ship leaving Cardiff in 1905, the London-based buyers presented the figurehead and bell to the newly built hospital where they were displayed until being presented to Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales in 1974. Figurehead is on a black wooden octagonal base, with brass plaque between figure head and base. - [National Museum Wales Item No. 74.12I/1] [629]


The hulk and a ward on-board the Hamadryad Hospital ship which was about to superseded by the New Seaman's Hospital. The hospital is mentioned in many of the newspaper reports on the main Penarth Dock website and was, in fact, the nearest hospital to the Penarth Dock and Ely Tidal Harbour. Fees were charged to cover the hospital running costs to every ship entering the port of Cardiff at a rate of 2/- (10p) per 100 tons registered weight and the hospital provided free medical treatment to seamen of all nationalities. Following her sale she was broken up in 1905, being the same year as the new land-bound Royal Hamadryad Hospital was opened in Ferry Road. The photographs are attributed to the business of Josef Collings of 47 Bute Street, Cardiff but it was probably his wife, Margaret R. Collings, whom recorded these items of our heritage. - Cardiff Records - Volume 5 - published in 1905. [650]

Royal Hamadryad Seamen's Hospital - by J. L. Wheatley, Town Clerk, Cardiff - The Old Hamadryad Ship. - 'Prior to the 1st November, 1866, there was no Seamen's Hospital at Cardiff, and sailors were treated at the Infirmary or at the Union Workhouse. Early in 1866 the matter was taken up and representations were made to the Admiralty, with the result that the Frigate Hamadryad, then lying at Devonport, was lent by the Government as a Hospital for Seamen of all nations. The Hamadryad was built at Pembroke Dock about 1840, and was subsequently taken to Devonport to be fitted out. She was, however, never completed for service. On being towed to Cardiff she was placed in the East Bute Dock and fitted up as a Hospital with accommodation for 50 in-patients, at a cost of £1,414. In 1867 the ship was removed from the East Dock to a site given by the late Marquis of Bute to the west of the entrance to the Glamorganshire Canal, where she remained until the opening of the new institution. She was subsequently sold and broken up. In order to give some idea of the work carried on in the old Ship, it may be mentioned that during the time she served as a Hospital, 17,464 in-patients received treatment, and 237,928 out-patients were treated.' - Cardiff Records - Volume 6 - [650] [000] [20180904]