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

The opening of the new tip was witnessed by Mr. Clarke Hawkshaw, son of Sir John Hawkshaw, engineer of the Penarth Dock Company ; Mr. H. Fisher ; Mr. J. Hurman ; Mr. Nicholson, secretary ; Mr. J. Edwards, Superintendent of the dock ; Mr. R. Forrest, agent to the Lord Windsor, and Mr. Downing, solicitor to the promoters.

Whilst inspecting the extension the Penarth men met a body of the Barry Dock promoters headed by David Davies, M.P. who were making an inspection. Davies asked why movable tips had not been installed. Mr. Fisher the resident engineer replied that they were "waiting to see the experience of others."

In 1882 the Bute Family had obtained Parliamentary powers to build a dock extending eastwards from the Roath Basin, and to charge halfpenny a ton for use of the sidings and halfpenny per ton for shunting. These charges were to be imposed not only at the proposed new dock, but also at the existing Bute Docks.

David Davies led the freighters in their strong opposition to these new charges. Davies had sunk his first colliery at Cwmparc in the Rhondda in 1864 - 66, and began the powerful company known as "The Ocean”.

Davies and his friends were now a group of colliery owners who were strong enough to challenge both the Bute and T.V.R. companies. David Davies told the House of Commons Committee that he did not want to oppose Bute provided the new dock was built and no new charges imposed, but if they were then the freighters would make a dock themselves.

Davies said, "We have five million tons of coal, and we can fill a thundering good dock the first day we open it." The rates were not imposed, but the debate led to the construction of Barry Docks. [1171]

The extension of Penarth Dock westward led to the construction of the houses at Cogan to house dock workers and railwaymen. The first houses were Cogan Row, now part of Cawnpore Street, and Hewell Street. The houses of Pill Street were originally called Company Row, the T.V.R. company houses.