Volume Nine - Pre-Victorian to the present day - even more aspects - The Board of Trade, Mercantile Marine Offices at Penarth Dock . . .

'But, within the limits of the port (of Cardiff), there is a dock called the "Penarth Dock," at which a very large amount of steam tonnage is loaded, and (can it be believed?) from this place masters of ships have to drag their crews, about four miles off by road, to be discharged or shipped as the case may be. A "Branch" office ought at once to be formed there for the convenience of trade. It seems a singular oversight that it was not done ten years ago when the dock was opened, for the dock company built offices expressly for such purposes, and, doubtless, as they have been so long unoccupied, would be only too glad to rent them on the most favourable terms. Let us hope for better things there and elsewhere in the future.' - The Nautical Magazine V5.  [597] 1876.

There is further confirmation of the status of the Penarth Dock Mercantile Marine Office in a newspaper report from September 1882 [325] which confirms the statement above i.e. that crews had to be brought to Cardiff from Penarth to be engaged or discharged. By 1872, numerous prosecutions ensued resulting in the suppression of 'crimping and kindred evils' and soon, crimping and desertion were practically abolished. The report implies that the Penarth Mercantile Marine Office was 'opened a short time later' i.e. after 1872, however, there is evidence these fine, purpose-built offices at Penarth Dock remained unused, and possibly unoccupied, from their construction date, sometime after February 1867, until May 1876.

Crimps and Crimping : an explanation :

I felt it would be useful to clarify the term 'crimps' and 'crimping' in context of the maritime community of that era. I am not aware of a positive derivation of that term or if it has to do with compressing paper or fabric into a series of folds ; maybe an old sailmaker may enlighten me! In the maritime context, it was a practice to entice seamen to desert or lure them into a situation where others would benefit. The crews were typically paid-off at the end of each voyage and had money in their pockets to spend on drink, food, gambling and prostitution. A typical account of crimping appears back in Vol.1, Chapter 15 which I repeat here :