Volume Three - The Pontoon Era - The decline of the coal trade at Penarth commences . . .

By 1913 there were 620 coal mines working the South Wales coalfield employing 232,800 men and producing about 57m tons of coal. However, labour relations throughout British industry were becoming increasingly problematic and in July 1915, 200,000 Welsh coal miners came out on strike for more pay. Settlement was promptly reached with management but the striking miners took until the end of August to agree to end the action. In that year almost 3,000,000 working days were lost to industrial disputes. Above is a colourised postcard from the Penarth Dock Collection [001] showing miners leading their ponies back to their pit following settlement of the dispute. The following year, the South Wales coalfield came under the direct wartime control of the Government which fuelled further conflict between the unions and the coal owners.