GWYN McGuire, a retired engineer previously employed for many years at Cardiff Docks, delivered this week’s Probus Club of Penarth talk on A potted history of Cardiff Docks.

Mr McGuire explained that the story really started with the construction of the Abercynon - Cardiff canal in 1790; followed four years later with the Merthyr Tydfil - Cardiff canal used to transport iron and coal to the port of Cardiff.

In 1820, 5,000 tons of these materials were transported along the canal, but within 10 years this figure had increased to 200,000 tons and by 1839 it had reached 350,000 tons.

The substantial number of workmen of all nationalities needed housing and other amenities so the small town of Cardiff exploded into a much larger area.

Prior to this in 1607, St Mary's Church situated near the present day bus station was damaged by flood causing Brunel to alter the course of the River Taff to prevent a recurrence. So there was the River Taff on one side of the Castle and the Glamorgan-shire Canal on the other side along the line of North Road.

There are still remnants of the canal visible but the majority of the water runs below the surface to Cardiff Docks.

One of the slides used showed an arrow-straight section of the canal with buildings on each side that the more knowledgeable members recognised as Churchill Way taken from Queen Street end.

Due to the increase of canal traffic it was realised that a basin was needed connecting the canal to the sea and this was constructed in 1798.

In 1839, West Bute Dock was opened which was financed by the Marquis of Bute out of his personal fortune. The first vessel to sail out of the West Bute Dock was the Lady Charlotte, and 20 years later the East Bute Dock opened.

Despite this, there was frustration at the lack of development at Cardiff which led to the opening of rival ports at Penarth in 1865 and Barry in 1889.

Spurred on by this Cardiff opened Roath Dock in 1887 and Queen Alexandra Dock in 1907.

By 1913 Cardiff was exporting 10,700,000 tons of coal, second only to Barry as the largest coal exporter in the world.

Sadly, over the years the decline of the coal industry has seen the Port of Cardiff reduce to what we know today.