The Marine Hotel public house, situated at the seaward end of the dock offices and Customs House under Penarth Head. It was built to supply local demand for accommodation for mariners and superceded the Penarth Head Inn. The location is indicated on the 1895 map above close by the Cardiff Ferry landing stage. The lower image has been colourised.
The decline mirrored the coal trade at Penarth and was apparently closed by the 1930's according to some, or most, local historians. However, I feel inclined to believe that they confused the public house with the Marine Hotel just around the corner which utilised 2/5ths of the Mercantile Marine Offices Building ; that Marine Hotel site was leased to Messrs. S. A. H. Noel & Co. for a 9½ year term from 25th December 1923. [029]
The public house was still on the accounts ledger of the TVR in 1921 (see Volume 06, Chapter 19) and appears to be still in place, witness a Aerofilms Collection aerial photograph taken, in 1937. [ref: WPW052631 [093] ] I suggest, however, that it most probably did not recover its trading status after the contents were sold by auction held on the 23rd August 1917. The Western Mail published notice of the sale : -
On Thursday Next, 23rd August - Marine Hotel, Penarth Dock, Penarth - 'Absolutely unreserved sale of the hotel fittings, trade implements, household furniture, and various effects, being the entire contents of the hotel, by order of Messrs. William Hancock and Co., Ltd., whose lease is expiring.
Messrs. Gottwalz and Perry (F.A.L.) are instructed to sell by auction, upon the premises, as above on thursday next, the 23rd August, 1917, at eleven o'clock in the morning, absolutely without reserve, the whole of the contents of the hotel.' Western Mail [164] 21st August 1917.
There followed a list of contents including the bar fixtures and counters, a full-sized billiard table by Burroughs and Watts, a Nobel and Bollard oak sideboard with over mantel to match, an upright grand pianoforte by Yates and Son, oil paintings and old sporting engravings, the contents of bedrooms and kitchen effects etc., etc. - I'll see you there with my cheque book!
