Volume Nine - Pre-Victorian to the present day - even more aspects - Penarth Dock and Tidal Harbour - Handbook - 1893 . . .

The Dock is lighted by powerful electric lights (as well as by gas), by means of which the work of the Dock, which commences at 6 a.m. on Monday and continues until Saturday night, may be carried on uninterruptedly.

The general conveniences of Penarth Dock are quite equal, if not superior, to those provided elsewhere. A post and telegraph office is situated near the Dock entrance, and there is direct telephone connection with Cardiff, Cardiff Docks, and the principal towns in South Wales, the Midlands Counties, and the West of England, including Bristol.

The Company have also established telephone communication between the Dock Offices and the Coal Tipping and Ballast Offices and Storage Sidings. Shippers and others have free use, on the business of the Dock, of the Company's private telephone between their office at the (Coal) Exchange, Cardiff, as well as with the Tipping and Ballast Offices, and the Company's Chief Offices at Cardiff.

The Custom House and Mercantile Marine Offices are situated near the Dock entrance, where there is a Hotel belonging to the Company, who are also owners of the Penarth Hotel, access to which is by a private road from the Dock. The latter Hotel stands in its own grounds of about 20 acres, on an eminence overlooking the Channel, and is one of the most comfortable and well-appointed in South Wales. Its proximity to the Dock will be found of much convenience to owners, overlookers, captains of Vessels, and others having business there.

The appliances for extinguishing fire are of the most complete character, and are at all times available. A Fire Brigade has recently been organized consisting of members of the Dock Staff, and is frequently drilled under its own officers. The Company's tug, "Primrose," is fitted with the most perfect fire engine in the Channel. She is also available for hire in salvage cases, being competent to pump water from a sinking vessel with the utmost rapidity.

The capabilities of Penarth Dock as regards dispatch may be gathered from the fact that self-trimming steamers, of a carrying capacity of from 1,200 to 2,000 tons, as a rule complete their loading in one tide, and some regular traders have never failed to do so during a series of years.