Volume Twelve - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - further aspects - A History of Penarth Dock by Roy Thorne . . .

In the same month, October 1860, the Directors expressed their concern in a Resolution : - "That this meeting is of opinion that the Contractors for the Dock are not prosecuting the work with proper vigour. Making every allowance for the bad season which has intervened since the period of taking the contract, comparatively little has yet been done. That the Engineers be requested to urge the Contractors to a more rapid progress as the importance of the Dock to the success of the undertaking will compel the Directors to hold the contractors to their contract as to the period of completion." [1162] [12/10/1860]

"Resolved that the Secretary call the attention of the Engineers to these facts. That the Chairman personally write Mr. Hawkshaw on the same subject." [1162] [3/12/1860]

This approach had little effect because in May 1861 the Directors resolved, "That the Engineers be informed that the Directors are extremely dissatisfied with the progress of the Dock Works. That having agreed to give the Contractors additional facilities and encouragement upon the faith of their making greater efforts, they are disappointed to find that no attempt has been made to take advantage of the fineness of the season. That, under the circumstances, the Engineers be instructed to put into force all the powers conferred upon them by the Contract, either to compel the Contractors to proceed more rapidly or to take the work out of their hands and get it finished at their expense." [1162] [6/5/1861]

In July 1861 the Board' s patience was exhausted and they decided to take over the dock work , and let their own engineers complete it after being authorised by the Court of Chancery. "Resolved ; that the engineers are hereby instructed to take possession of all the wagons, plant, etc., of the contractors under Clause 5 of the specification and in pursuance of the notice served by the Company upon the Contractors on Saturday last. That the engineers are authorised to take such steps as effectually to carry on the works. [1162] [17/7/1861]

The Directors also considered that the quarry and plant extracting the stone at Radyr used to build the dock was theirs by terms of the contract. They instructed Mr. Hawkshaw not to have discussions with Messrs Smith and Knight, and in August 1861 published this notice : -