Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Eight - Pre-Victorian to the present day - more aspects - Cardiff, Penarth and Environs - [vintage photo and postcard album] . . .

'Entrance to Bute Docks, Cardiff' - The Bute West Dock was opened in October 1839 as the Bute Ship Canal, being renamed in 1855, the TVR leased it for the export of coal from 1841. It was almost twice as long as Penarth Dock even after the 1880's extension works but not as wide. This is another postcard from the Penarth Dock Collection. [001]

'Pier Head, Cardiff' - A postcard franked in April 1946 when the postage cost was 2d (less than 1p). It was from Sheila telling Frank at Denton, Manchester of her travel arrangements by train on Wednesday via Waterloo. [001]

'Pier Head, Cardiff' - A coloured version of the above postcard which assists in more accurately dating the photograph in that on the reverse it states : 'Passed for publication by Press Bureau 27/4/17.' If only all postcards had the same attention to detail! Another heritage photograph held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001] [20200104]

'The Cardiff Docks - Loading Coal' - An image from a fine book held within the Penarth Dock Collection entitled 'The Ports of the Bristol Channel' published in 1893. The subject requires no explanation! [001] [316]

Pierhead Jump - 'If you wanted work, you had to go down to the pierhead and queue. If a crew member, drunk, sick or disillusioned didn't show by the time the ship sailed they'd call out the job vacancy particulars as the ship got underway. If you fitted the bill and were the next in the queue, you'd best get ready to jump as the ship steamed past the pierhead. If you made it, you could consider yourself employed.' These works prefix the song 'Pierhead Jump' a traditional song from Tiger Bay as complied in a fine book by Mike Johnson entitled 'Old Cardiff Winds'. [401]

Tradesmen and sailors stand in line
if you would earn a shilling
ships'll set sail from time to time
and if you're young and willing
you might be one of the lucky ones,
if you can call it luck
to be at sea on a rotting hulk
all for a lousy buck.

Able men, ten by ten
standing on the pier
like a human rubbish-dump:
and, they say, the only way
of getting out of here
is when you do the pierhead jump:-
ship ahoy (ship ahoy)
ship ahoy (ship ahoy)

Carpenters (carpenters)
Cabin-boys .....
Steel yourselves,
and be prepared to get out of the
slump,
And when they call your name out
- Jump!