Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - The White Funnel Fleet - P & A Campbell Limited


The 'Glen Avon', a postcard from the Penarth Dock Collection. Built at the Ailsa Ship Building Company at Troon and launched in 1912. She was of 509 gross, 213 net tons, 220 feet long x 27'-1" breadth x 8'-9" depth. She foundered on war service on the 2nd September 1944. [001]


Another postcard from the collection of 'Glen Avon' leaving the Pier Head, Cardiff with the next call at Penarth Pier. The card was posted in Cardiff during July 1929 addressed to a couple in Seine, France. The postage to France was a remarkable 'three half pence' (0.625p). [001]


Pleasure Boats leaving Docks, Cardiff - A view of the stern and paddle box of p.s. 'Glen Avon' as she heads out from the Pier Head landing stages at Bute Docks, Cardiff. Note the chef or cook taking the air at the doorway forward of the paddle box! Another postcard from the Penarth Dock Heritage Collection. [001]


P.S. 'Glen Avon' - Built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Troon. Length (over all) 227 ft. Breath 27 ft. Depth 16 ft. 6 in. An illustration taken from the Bristol Channel District Guide - Official Handbook to the Marine Trips of P. & A. Campbell Ltd. (The White Funnel Fleet) - first published 1893 - from the 1934 Edition. [1332]



P.S. Glen Avon - At the Pier Head, Bute Docks, Cardiff with the works of the Mount Stuart Dry Docks Ltd. behind, which was adjacent to the number one dry dock. The vessel was, at this date, registered at the Port of Bristol where the offices of P. & A. Campbell were situated within the Britannia Buildings nearby Hotwell's pier and overlooking the Cumberland Basin. This fine photograph is held within the Penarth Dock Collection and has a hand written note on the rear which states 'Glen Avon, Cardiff, 4/36' i.e. April 1936. [001]

	P.S. 'Glen Avon' - During WWI the Penarth Pier had been requisitioned and was found at the end of the war to need considerable reconstruction at the landing stage, seaward end. The Greenheart timbers were in need of maintenance which had not been undertaken in the interim war period, thus the pleasure steamers were unable to resume calling at Penarth. A War Compensation claim of £7,228 was rejected and following discussion in the House of Commons only £353 5s. 11d. plus 40 guineas legal costs was forthcoming and the right to appeal was rejected! The Pier Company was in dire straights financially and offered the pier to Penarth Council and in August 1923 the offer of £5,000 was accepted and the pier became the property of the town whom commenced the repairs and widened the pier and proposed a new concert hall at the Esplanade end of the pier. The 'Glen Avon' was the first paddle steamer to call at Penarth pier following the extensive repairs and improvements to the pier the balance of which was paid for by Penarth residents through the rates. Many thanks to Phil Caradice for this research info and his book entitled 'Penarth Pier 1894 - 1994.' [1358]

	1919 - p.s. 'Glen Avon' at the end of her war duties as a minesweeper having been requisitioned by the Admiralty during December 1914. [1358]