FROM the Archive this week features a photograph of Barry harbour and pier.
There must have been a time when a large number of ships outside Barry Dock entrance was a common sight, sadly this is no longer the case.
After Barry Dock opened in 1889 the local newspapers gave regular information on the number of ships and tonnage of imports and exports.
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The reported number of ships both steam and sail ships arriving in Barry between the opening in 1889 to 1897 are as follows.
1890 - 1,721, 1891 - 2,128, 1892 - 2,182,
1893 - 2,162, 1894 - 2,166, 1895 - 2,277,
1896 - 2,546, 1897 - 2,806.
These ships needed a crew and typical numbers of seamen engaged at Barry was around 20,000 a year and the number discharged around 13,000.
Barry had a large floating population of seamen who were between jobs and who gave a significant boost to the local economy.
The Barry & District News would like to thank Cllr Shirley Hodges for the photograph and information.
If you have an old Barry photograph you would like to see included, with information about what it depicts, email sha@barryanddistrictnews.co.uk
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