Windsor Road, Penarth - Stranaghan & Stephens Limited were prominent wholesale and retail grocers, provision merchants, and wine & spirit dealers with a Royal Warrant of Appointment to King George V. According to regional business directories of the era, the company had locations in the Penarth and Cardiff areas. The Penarth Branch was, as shown above, at No. 18 Windsor Road with another shop at No. 14 Glebe Street whereas the Cardiff Branch was situated at No. 9 Castle Street. There was a A. Stranaghan listed in directories as residing at Marine parade, Penarth whom may have been involved in the business. Another heritage postcard view held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001]

The etymology of the surname Stranaghan is interesting in that it is from Ó Sranacháin, ‘descendant of Sranachán’ ; an Irish name supposedly derived from the word srann, ‘snoring’ or ‘little snoring one’.

Windsor Road, Penarth - A lovely Valentine's Series postcard view posted early in the new year of 1908 to a Miss M. Ross of the High Street, Brotton, up north, in the former North Riding of Yorkshire! Eva Hocking states that 'it is dreadful cold here and freezing hard.' Another fine heritage postcard held within the Penarth Dock Collection. [001]

Apparently, January 1908 commenced a highly anomalous year in British weather history. While January saw some cold spells and notable frosts, the most extraordinary weather events of that year hit later, culminating in a historic late-April blizzard that brought heavy snow to all of South Wales.