A postcard dating, I believe, prior to 1907, when a new pavilion was built at the far end of the pier which had a curved roof. The paddle steamer 'Gwalia' (or perhaps 'Devonia') of the Barry Railway Co. is making its approach to the Penarth Pier. Since both of these steamers were launched in 1905, the date of the photograph can be quite accurately estimated assuming my observations are correct!
In the distance, on the right, at the horizon, is Ynys Echni, Flat Holm, with its lighthouse. Flat Holm is a part of Glamorgan and is larger than Steep Holm, which belongs to the zider drinkers over in Zomerset. The fog horn on the island was built in the same period, in 1906 to be precise and was a sound that both Julie and myself clearly remember. I could sing it to you but it would not be a pleasant experience since someone once commented in my youth that my singing replicated a foghorn! A distinctive lowering of pitch and an almost violently abrupt end to its voice is a sound that resonated around Cogan and Dinas Powys alike on those still, foggy, dank, nights. We commented that we often went to sleep as children with that, somehow comforting, sound resonating in our ears. It gave two short blasts which were repeated about every two minutes. At Murch Road, Dinas Powys, it melded into a continuous moan with three changes of pitch. [000] [001]
