Volume Nine - Pre-Victorian to the present day - even more aspects - Cefn-y-Wrâch . . .

Returning to reality for a while! In 1878, a great deal of activity and discussion about the Cefn-y-Wrâch shoal followed a number of incidents where the local pilots were blamed for groundings, near misses and poor navigation en-route to the docks of Cardiff and Penarth. Eventually, the 'Sailor's Friend', Mr Samuel Plimsoll M.P. became involved and supported the pilots against the criticism of the port of Cardiff Pilotage Board. Our story begins in March 1878.   Mr. Samuel Plimsoll M.P. the 'Sailor's Friend' was born in Bristol during February 1824.

• March 1878 - The Cefn-y-Wrach - Visit and Inspection by the Mayor of Cardiff - 'On Thursday morning the Mayor of Cardiff (Dr Taylor), accompanied by Captain Cawley, the pilot master, paid a visit of inspection to the Cefn-y-Wrach shoal. His worship went, we are informed, more with the intent of satisfying his own mind as to the present character of the shoal and the channel than for the purpose of taking an official record of his inspection. . . . Considerable interest and curiosity was manifested among the pilots as to the object of the visit and the modus operandi of the investigation. It is stated as the result of the inquiry, that the pilots are in error as to the mark on the shoal, said to have been caused by the recent passage over it of a large vessel. The mark is stated to have been produced by a piece of heavy ship's chain with an anchor attached, which was picked up by the dredger anchor. Captain Cawley and the Mayor found the impression of the chain visible at the mouth of the channel. The chain and anchor have since been brought ashore. The presence of a new rivet, which was picked up near the spot by the pilots on Wednesday, may now be accounted for in this way, instead of, as was at first thought, by its having been wrenched out of a ship's bottom. Ample evidence was found as to the dangerous character of the channel. On comparing the plan made by Mr. Williams, the borough engineer and surveyor, with the channel at present, it was seen that in several places there had been considerable silting up.