Index to Volume Seven - The People - Dock Family Trees - Glossary . . .

Road - Roadstead - An anchoring place in or near the open sea; at some distance from a harbour or a Sea-town. Ships anchor in roads after having left a harbour, as at Flushing-roads on leaving Antwerp; waiting a fair wind, etc. Or when arriving and waiting to enter a dock as at Penarth-roads near Cardiff. [1020] [499]

Stiffening Coal - Stiffening was coal loaded into a sailing vessel's hold to utilise the space previously occupied by conventional solid ballast, stone etc. I assume this was simply to maximise the quantity of coal exported per voyage and stabilise the vessel until her cargo had been fully loaded and trimmed. Many thanks to the staff at The National Coal Mining Museum for England, based at the site of Caphouse Colliery in Overton, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, for their assistance in defining stiffening coal. They referenced an article from the Shipping and Mercantile Gazette published 3rd January 1877 which stated : 'coal put on board to stiffen or steady the ship in lieu of ballast'. The following newspaper reports add weight to the definition:

1876 - Accident to a Barque - The Italian Barque Maria Ravano, while taking on board stiffening coal, on Thursday, under No. 5 tip, west side of east Bute Dock, capsized on the quay. A number of shipwrights, with the aid of the crew, got her up at 2 p.m. She has fortunately sustained but trifling damage. - The Western Mail [164] [361] 28th July 1876.

1877 - Charter as follows:- "To be loaded at the rate of 75 tons per working-day, beginning when the ship is in berth, unballasted, and ready to receive cargo ; any time lost by strikes or lock-outs to be excluded in the computation of working days."

Then it was provided, further, that stiffening coal - i.e., coal put on board to stiffen or steady the ship in lieu of ballast - was to be shipped at the rate of 40 tons per day; and the days on which stiffening coal was put on board, or the ship was detained for it, were to be excluded in computing the working-days allowed for loading ; Demurrage to be paid for every day beyond the days allowed for loading and discharging, at the rate of 3d. per ton per day ; . . . . Shipping and Mercantile Gazette [1346] 3rd January 1877 [also similar published within The Law Times on 13th January 1877].