Volume Six - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Select Aspects - Crossing the River Ely . .

In an article about the chain ferry entitled 'My Cardiff', Bill Barrett relates a curious story connected with the old River Ely boatmen:

"A Cardiff Docks coal trimmer, who lived near Leckwith, found himself followed at a distance by a stranger. The character always seemed to follow him at night just as the light had drained from the sky.

One evening he decided to challenge him. The man had a large hood over his head and in a gasping voice told a strange tale. He had worked as a boatman on the River Ely and despite the coming of the chain ferry did good business. Then, late one night, he collided with one of the steel ropes that helped to work the ferry and his head was severed from his body. Although his body had been recovered his head was still locked in a gully near Leckwith Bridge and he said he could not rest in peace until it was properly buried.

By this time the coal trimmer was ready to do anything and, following directions, he eventually found the head and buried it deep down, as requested. The odd stranger watched him from a bridge and as soon as the coal trimmer approached him, the hooded man made a deep bow and suddenly dissolved into the night! However, another shock was in store for the terrified trimmer, as seeing a gleam of light on the place where the hooded man had been standing, he discovered several gold sovereigns, as if made in payment for his services!" The Post [165] 26 February 2004.

I believe the following story applies to the chain ferry since it states that it plies the river Ely whereas the steam ferries sailed from the Cardiff Pier Head to Penarth Docks.

1881 - "Run Down by a Steamer - On Friday afternoon the Penarth ferry boat. which plies across the river Ely, had left the south side with ten passengers on board, mostly English and foreign sailors, when she was run down by a passing steamer, the occupants being all thrown into the water. The ferryman had his head severely cut, but with this exception all the passengers got ashore unhurt, but with great difficulty as the ebb tide was running at nearly ten knots an hour." Cardiff Times [019] 31st December 1881.

A knot is a measure of velocity i.e. one nautical mile per hour therefore, to say 'ten knots per hour' is incorrect hence the strikethough!