1949-1950 : Penarth Pontoon and Slipway Company Limited soon to become the Penarth Dock Engineering Company Limited is in the vee created by the old railways. The building indicated by an arrow on the River Ely was converted to the new drawing office on the first floor; it was cantilevered out over the river estuary mud. Looking out of the windows next to my drawing board, especially at high tide, I felt like I was the Captain standing at the wheel on the bridge of my ship!

Adjacent to this building and situated between it and the garage was the former 'Explosives Pier'. The Importation Licence for Explosives was granted to The Lessees, Taff Vale Railway Co., Cardiff. The Byelaws approved date was 6th November 1882 (presumably in time for the works of the dock extension), was approved by the Customs on the 19th March 1883 and administered under the rules and regulation of the Explosives Act of 1875.

On the ground floor at the far end are the only workers conveniences on the site. The W.C’s discharged their contents directly to the mud below at low tide and into the water at high tide. I found that it was always best to avoid using the toilets at the highest spring tides especially if there was a bit of swell since you almost certainly “got your own back” so as to speak!. [001]