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

In 1937 she was towed from Port Stanley to Sparrow Cove where holes were put in her bottom and she was allowed to settle. The ship was brought back to Bristol on a giant pontoon towed by the tug "Varius II” in June 1970, and she now lies in the Great Western Dock, Bristol.

By 1882 coal exports from the South Wales coalfield had risen tremendously and the combined tonnage shipped from Cardiff and Penarth was 10,955,511 tons. Of this total Penarth’s share was 3,350,655 tons or 30.59% of the two ports exports. The following table shows the rise in exports from Penarth [614]  : -

This rising export trade at Penarth was soon to be affected by the new dock at Barry. The Barry Dock and Railway Act received Royal Assent in August 1884, and the ceremonial sod was cut by Lord Windsor, who then owned Barry Island, in November 1884. Lord Windsor was one of the promoters of Barry Dock.

Previously, in February 1884, the promoters of Barry Dock had made an offer to purchase the Bute Docks, but this came to naught. Now the T.V.R. and Bute became allies although the T.V.R.'s position was weaker than Bute’s.

The Butes had a secure trade from their lessees and the Rhymney Valley railway and interests.