Penarth Pier

An early Inter-City connection provided Wandering with an opportunity to visit the Victorian town of Penarth, just a few miles east of Cardiff.



The sea-front is dominated by the Victorian Pier that was built in 1894. Across the Bristol Channel between the Somerset coast lie the islands of Flat Holm and Steep Holm.



A number of people were waiting on the pier to catch the paddle-ship Waverley that sails to Ilfracombe, Lundy Island and Minehead.



In 1947 the 7,130 ton steamship the SS Port Royal Park, under the flag of the Tavistock Shipping Company collided with the pier causing severe damage that was not repaired for several years



The Esplanade Hotel, one of the grandest on the seafront was being demolished.