The opening ceremony party taken at the harbour toll house on 14th May 1900. [009] [060]

The Weekly Mail [067] reported the opening in its issue dated 19th May 1900:

"OPENING OF THE RIVER ELY SUBWAY. The subway under the Ely Harbour, by which the distance between Cardiff and Penarth has been reduced by at least a mile, was opened on Monday morning. It was not intended to have anything like a ceremonial opening, but almost at the last moment the officers of the Taff Vale Company determined that so important an event should not be quite unnoticed, and requested Mrs. Beasley, the wife of Mr. Beasley, general manager of the company, to formally open the subway, which she kindly consented to do.

At ten o'clock in the morning the party assembled at the dock end of the subway, where Mrs. Beasley was presented by Mr. G. T. Sibbering, M.I.C.E.. chief engineer of the company, on behalf of himself and colleagues, with a hand- some silver key suitably inscribed, and having on one side a view of the interior of the subway while in course of construction. On the opening by Mrs. Beasley of the gate leading into the subway the party was conducted through by Mr. Sibbering, and on arriving at the other end Mrs. Beasley opened the exit gate and passed through the turnstile, becoming thereby the first paying pedestrian. She thereupon in a few appropriate words declared the subway opened.

The party adjourned to the engineer's office on the harbour side, where Mr. Sibbering proposed the health of Mrs. Beasley, and thanked her for her kindness in undertaking the opening of the subway. Mr. Beasley replied on behalf of Mrs. Beasley, and proposed the health of the engineer, whom he congratulated on the successful completion of a work which it had fallen to the lot of few engineers to carry out. Mr. Sibbering in reply said the work had been one of great difficulty, but he was glad to say had been carried out successfully, and without loss of life or injury to any person whatever. Great credit was due to Mr. Thomas Taylor, the contractor, who had throughout the work displayed great perseverance in the construction of so difficult an undertaking.

Mr. Sibbering mentioned that the construction of the subway entailed the putting together of about 150,000 pieces of ironwork, and concluded by proposing the health of Mr. Taylor. The construction of the subway had put upon Mr. Taylor great responsibilities, and there were many times when the men would not proceed to the face of the work unless Mr. Taylor led the way. This he had done on several occasions through some feet of water, and had it not been for his example there is no doubt the work would not now have been completed.

Mr. Taylor thanked those present for toasting his health. Mr. S. Thomas, the dockmaster, pro-posed the health of Mr. Davey, Mr. Sibbering's resident engineer, who replied. The party then adjourned to the front of the toll-house at the harbour end of the subway, where they were photographed, and the proceedings terminated. There were present, in addition to those already named. Miss Beasley and Miss D. Beasley, Mr. T. Hurry Riches and Miss Riches, Mr. and Mrs. Coleman. Mr. H. Clarke, Mr. E. Edwards, Mr. J. Tilley, Mr. Harland, and many other officers of the company."