Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

about . . .

Volume Six - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Select Aspects - The Quay Wall at the West End of Dock - 1909 . .

Before and After . . .

Back at Chapter Three, Volume Nine, I explained that the dock was originally built with a pitched inclined wall at the western end; witness the map and image top left. When the pontoon was ordered in 1909 it was also necessary to build an engineering works in support of the pontoon and this became the Penarth Pontoon and Ship Repairing Company Limited works which I knew so well during my apprenticeship there. At the western end they built a vertical wall to replace the inclined wall and I was unable to provide an explanation of how this was achieved given that the docks were approaching the zenith of the coal trade and that the majority of this substantial quay wall and its foundations were under water.

Investigation at the National Archives [142] has revealed the tender document and associated correspondence which explains how this amazing feat of civil engineering was accomplished. The images above represent the before and after situation at the western end of the dock.

The tender document commenced "Notice to Contractors - The Directors of the Taff Vale Railway Company will at their meeting on Friday, the 26th day of March, 1909, consider Tenders for the construction of a Quay Wall at Penarth Dock, which Tenders must be delivered, by post only, at the Offices of this Company, Queen Street, Cardiff, not later than 9 a.m. on Friday, 26th March 1909. - The Contract Drawing may be seen at the offices of the Company's Engineer, Queen Street, Cardiff, where copies of the Specification, Bills of Quantities, and Form of Tender, may be obtained on or after Wednesday, March 17th, 1909. - By Order - E. Edwards, Secretary, TVR Offices, Cardiff."

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