The Penarth Dock in the late 1950's with the remnants of the Royal Naval Reserve Fleet, White Funnel paddle steamers and the pontoon in the distance. This would be after 1955 since the coal tips and railway sidings had been removed by that date but before 1961 when the Reserve Fleet left forever. The dock was empty and closed by March 1962. On the right are two of the Quonset buildings which date from the American 'invasion' of Penarth during WWII.
The postcard was posted in 1963 and on the reverse it states:- "The Harbour, Penarth - situated on the A4160 road about 6 miles from Cardiff is the Bristol Channel resort of Penarth. The town has fine docks, beaches and pier from which pleasure steamers run in the season." - Maybe Ernest Joyce & Co., Ltd., of Newport should have visited to verify the "fine docks and beaches"!
This is how I prefer to remember the Penarth Dock as it was just like this when I first started visiting on my bicycle and began to take an interest in shipping in the Channel. Ten years later I began my apprenticeship as a fitter and turner there, then met my wife. This little dock had such a great influence upon my life, hence my dedication to preserving some of its history for present and future generations. [001] [000]
