Opening of the South Dock 1859
Theme : The Sea

This drawing by Charles W. Campion of Neath accompanied an article on the Opening of the New Docks at Swansea which appeared in The Illustrated London News on October 8th, 1859. The article on the opening of the South Dock read:'The extensive system of quays & docks which have been growing up, since 1852, on the west side of the entrance to the port of Swansea were inaugurated on Friday, Sept. 23rd with great ceremony. The dock gates were opened by Miss Talbot, daughter of the Lord Lieutenant of the County... A ball was given in the evening, when the town presented a brilliant appearance...The new docks consist of an inner & outer, or half-tide basin... The whole extent of the docks, as well as the river float, is furnished with Sir William Armstrong's hydraulic apparatus... Altogether, the expenditure on the harbour up to the present time amounts to about £500,000. The engineer-in-chief of the works is Mr James Abernerthy...' (See also the wheelbarrow & shovel on this website).

This Item is located at Swansea Museum in the Library