Julie Carder's [124] impression of the balcony detail of the Board of Trade, Mercantile Marine Offices at Penarth Dock. The parent company of the Penarth Harbour, Dock and Railway Company, the Taff Vale Railway Company, has its initials proudly emblazoned in the intricate ironwork of each of the five balconies on the first floor fronting the building.

The building is almost directly facing the entrance to the Bute Docks at Cardiff which is less than one mile away. Could it be that this 'V' was intended to have a dual significance? The relationship between the TVR Company and the Bute Empire was always troubled so could it be that the 'V' represents putting up two fingers to Bute, courtesy of the Directors of the TVR? I believe there is a distinct possibility since the gesture is nothing new. There is myth that British archers first used the 'V' sign to anger the French back in the Hundred Year War of 1337 to 1453. The British longbow archers were excellent at hitting their targets which the French were never too happy about! Archers captured by the French had their index and middle fingers removed which obviously disabled them. It became the practice to taunt the French in battle by saluting them with a 'two fingered salute'.- 'A Thousand Years of Annoying the French' -  The English Channel may be only 20 miles wide, but it’s 1,000 years deep ; states a review of a well known book by Stephen Clarke!