Penarth Dock, South Wales - the heritage and legacy

Volume Twelve - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - further aspects - Even More Moments Captured in Time - [vintage photo and postcard album] . . .


1902 - Alexandra Park, Penarth - Opening Ceremony - The ceremony of opening the Alexandra Park. Penarth, took place on Wednesday. The Park, six-and-a-half acres in extent, forms one of the three pieces of land, comprising altogether 16 acres, presented to the town by Lord Windsor in 1897. The two other portions are being utilised for recreation ground, but the new park forms a really picturesque retreat for residents and visitors. It overlooks the beach, esplanade and pier, and commands a fine view of the Channel. On one side is a beautifully wooded glen and on the other the stately trees along Beach-road form a natural enclosure. The park is on sloping ground, and the winding walks are well arranged on the brow of the hill are erected band stands and a shelter, both overlooking the sea. The band of the Glamorgan Imperial Yeomanry, by permission of Colonel Wyndham, Quin, M.P., provided a programme of music. - The Cardiff Times [019] [361] 28th June 1902. A few days previously: 1902 - The Coronation - Programmes of South Wales Towns - Preparations for the Festivities - At Penarth the squares will be decorated with Venetian masts, flags, and streamers. On Wednesday the Alexandra Park will be opened by Mr. S. Thomas, J.P., at two o'clock, and the Glamorgan Imperial Yeomanry Band (by kind permission of Colonel W. H. Wyndham-Quin. M.P., D.S.O.), under the conductorship of Mr. Paul Draper, will give two musical performances. - Evening Express [135] [361] 23rd June 1902. So, in conclusion, Alexandra Park, Penarth, was completed and opened to coincide with the Coronation of Edward VII and Alexandra which was scheduled for the 26 June 1902. However, the ceremony was postponed at short notice due to the King falling ill as a result of an abdominal abscess which resulted in him having urgent surgery to save his life!
Being an engineer and a former brass-bandsman, I was interested in who made the ornate cast-iron bandstand referred to above? I have within the Penarth Dock Collection a variety of postcard records of the park and its wonderfully ornate cast-iron bandstand which survived until it was damaged during a storm and was subsequently demolished and removed c.1951. According to Paul Rabbitts [1330] in his book Bandstands, the bandstand in Alexandra Park, Penarth has been defined as an 'Ollerton' which is listed under the heading of manufacturer or foundry. I can find no such reference to 'Ollerton' however, but the town of Ollerton is related to the well known foundry and engineers namely the Butterley Company of Ripley in Derbyshire. Martin, my son and I had an interesting project with them and their amazing engineers just prior to the closure of the company in 2009. It was founded as Benjamin Outram & Company way back in 1790 and had such a wonderful heritage. Maybe they made bandstands in their foundry during the Victorian period? I decided to do some more research - see conclusion below.


Alexandra Park, Penarth - With a detailed view of the bandstand with its fine cast-iron filigree workings. The postcard has a hand-written note on the reverse dating it to 1924. [001]


Alexandra Park, Penarth - Another detailed view of the bandstand with its fine cast-iron filigree workings. The postcard is a Kingsway Real Photo Series and is held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001]


Alexandra Park, Penarth - Yet another view of the photogenic park and bandstand. Notice the sheer pride in appearance and not a single piece of litter - contrast this to Penarth today! [001]


Pier from Alexandra Park, Penarth - That lovely ornate bandstand blocks the view of the Esplanade Hotel! At the end of the pier there is no Bijou Pavilion, hence, as the postmark is December 1908, this view predates the construction of the Pavilion in 1907. [001]


Penarth Gardens - The final postcard view from the Penarth Dock Collection features this 'National' Series postcard and shows the bandstand in the clearest detail thus far. I can date it between 1902 and 1907. [001]

The Bandstand of Alexandra Park, Penarth was probably built by James Allan Senior & Son at the Elmbank Foundry in Glasgow which was established in 1836. It is also an 'octagonal bandstand with fine decorative cast-iron railings ; slender polygonal angle columns, each with decorative base and Ionic capital and filigree brackets, supporting ribbed boarded timber ceiling with pendant iron finial, and pyramidal roof with attenuated decorative cast-iron finial.' This educated description closely matches that as installed in MacRosty Park, Crieff. Similar bandstands were also noted at the Esplanade, Weymouth, and at Grays Park, Thurrock, Essex. I attach the best evidence I can find below!


The bandstand in MacRosty Park, Crieff, (left) appears to be almost identical in its design features to that of the Alexandra Park, Penarth (right). The MacRosty Park bandstand is well documented that it was manufactured at the foundry of James Allan Senior & Son at the Elmbank Foundry, Glasgow in 1906 and installed in 1907. It is now deemed to be a Category B Listed Building and the roof was probably replaced during recent renovation works. I conclude, therefore, it likely that both bandstands had the same foundry of birth! [000] [002] In the Building News and Engineering Journal [532] of January to June 1901 there is the following interesting entry: Penarth - Bandstand, & c. . . . . Urban District Council . . . . . Edgar J. Evans, A.M.I.C.E., Surveyor, Penarth . . . . Jan.28.


Alexander Park, Bandstand, Penarth - Labelled as 'A sepia photograph of the Windsor Gardens Bandstand circa 1910, showing the Open Day Presentation, with a crowd of people and with view of properties on Windsor Place.' [The creator is G. J. Steddon and H. Owen and the archive reference : VOG00424] [048] Clearly, witness above, the bandstand is that of Alexandra Park and not of Windsor Gardens. Could this event be the 1902 opening ceremony?


The Park, Penarth - Another fine postcard view featuring the bandstand, pond and fountain, etc., at Alexandra Gardens. [001]