Barry Docks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Barry Docks |
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 Barry Docks
Location in Wales
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| Location | |
| Country | Wales |
| Location | Barry, Vale of Glamorgan |
| Coordinates | 51°23′54″N 3°16′08″W / 51.398242°N 3.268954°W |
| Details | |
| Opened | 1889 |
| Owned by | Associated British Ports (ABP) |
| Size | 531 acres (215 ha) |
Barry Docks (Welsh: Dociau'r Barri) is a large port in the town of Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. It's located a few miles southwest of Cardiff on the northern coast of the Bristol Channel. These docks first opened in 1889. They were built by David Davies and John Cory. They wanted a new port because Cardiff Docks were too busy and expensive. Barry Docks helped ship coal from the South Wales Coalfield by train.
The main engineer for the docks was John Wolfe Barry. He was helped by Thomas Forster Brown and Henry Marc Brunel. Henry was the son of the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The docks were built in what used to be a natural channel between Barry Island and the mainland. Workers built dams to connect the island to the mainland. They then drained the water and dug out the land. The dug-up material was used to flatten the area around the docks. It also helped build strong walls to protect the entrance.
The docks first had a basin with gates at both ends. This basin acted like a lock, connecting the sea to the docks. They also built dock walls, loading areas, and railways for coal. A second dock and another entrance lock were added in 1898. The main Barry Dock Offices building was finished in 1900.
By 1913, Barry Docks became the busiest coal port in the world. It shipped over 11 million tons of coal that year! After World War I (1914–1918), coal exports started to drop. The Great Depression in the 1930s also caused problems. However, the docks were very important during World War II (1939–1945). After the war, the docks became owned by the government. From 1959, the Geest company used the docks to bring in bananas from the West Indies. This continued until the 1980s.
From 1957, many old railway wagons were taken apart here. Also, from 1959, many steam locomotives were stored at Barry Docks after they stopped being used. Over 200 of these old steam engines were later saved by railway fans.
Today, parts of the docks have become industrial areas. The first dock area, now called The Waterfront, has new homes and shops. The second dock is still busy. It mainly handles chemicals and wood.
Contents
Where are Barry Docks Located?
Barry is on the northern coast of the Bristol Channel. It is a few miles southwest of Cardiff.
Before the docks were built, there was a natural channel called Barry Sound. This sound was between Barry Island and the mainland. The island and Friar's Point protected it from storms. This area had been a port since the Middle Ages. Barry Island is about 1 mile (1.6 km) long and 0.5 miles (0.8 km) wide. It rises about 120 feet (37 m) above sea level. The land slopes up to the north, keeping the sound safe from strong winds. No rivers flowed into the sound.
The Bristol Channel is famous for its very high and low tides. During normal spring tides, the water level can change by 36 feet (11 m). During normal neap tides, it changes by 19.5 feet (5.9 m). Sometimes, tides can reach about 43 feet (13 m). When this happens, seawater flows over the lock gates into Barry Docks. As the tide goes out, it flows back over them. At low tide during spring tides, the water is 25 feet (7.6 m) deep near the dock entrance.
Why Were Barry Docks Built?
For most of the 1800s, Cardiff was the main port for shipping coal from South Wales. Cardiff shipped almost 1 million tons of coal in 1859. By 1889, this grew to 7.7 million tons. The Marquess of Bute owned the Cardiff Docks. Other coal mine owners had to use these docks and the Taff Vale Railway. They complained about long delays and crowded conditions. They also said Bute charged very high fees.
The idea of building a dock at Barry started as early as 1865. A retired farmer named John Thomas suggested a railway line to Barry. He also proposed a dock for exporting coal, iron, and limestone. This idea was also interesting to railway builders. The Ogmore Valley Railway Company wanted to carry more coal. Other engineers also saw the business chance.
A man named Jenner tried to get permission to extend the railway to Barry in 1866. He also got approval for a company to build a quay (a loading platform) at Barry. However, this plan never happened. Jenner tried again in 1868, but coal traders preferred Cardiff.
Jenner gave up the idea after a new dock was allowed in Cardiff in 1874. But the idea of a Barry dock kept going. Major landowners in Glamorgan, the Plymouth Estate trustees, pushed for a railway from Barry. They got a bill approved in 1876. They extended the railway privately, opening it in 1878.
How Were Barry Docks Built?
Starting the Big Project
In 1883, a group of mine owners asked for permission to build a dock at Barry. They also wanted a new railway to serve it. Barry Sound was a good spot because it didn't need much digging. David Davies and John Cory spoke for the group. Davies was the leader of the Rhondda mine owners. He had experience building railways. Cory was setting up coal depots around the world.
After being rejected at first, the group finally got permission in August 1884. On November 14, 1884, they held a ceremony to start digging.
The main engineer was John Wolfe Barry. He was helped by Thomas Forster Brown and Henry Marc Brunel. John Robinson was the engineer who lived on site. T.A. Walker was the contractor who built the docks. Barry was famous for designing Tower Bridge and other big projects. Houses were built for the construction workers. These houses would later be used by the dockworkers. Many workers and shopkeepers moved into the area.
Building Dams and Digging
Before building could start, the dock area, covering 200 acres (81 hectares), had to be cleared of water. Three dams were built from the island to the mainland. The middle dam split the dock area in half. The two outer dams completely blocked off the site from the sea. The middle dam was easy to build by just dumping earth.
The western dam was much harder. It rested on mud that was over 40 feet (12 m) deep. Earth dumped from wagons sank into the deep mud. A wooden bridge was built across the gap to carry loaded trucks. Workers threw earth from these trucks. The tide current was too fast to close the gap easily.
They solved the problem in July 1885. They dropped wooden barriers between the bridge supports when the tide was low. Then they quickly filled behind the barriers with stone and earth. This worked! A large pipe was put through the dam to drain water. The rest of the water was pumped out by a large beam engine. This dam created the causeway that permanently linked Barry Island to the mainland.
The eastern dam was made of stone and earth. It had openings for the tide to flow through. In March 1886, these openings were quickly closed with planks and concrete. Later, the planks were removed. More pipes with valves helped drain the water as digging continued. The remaining water was pumped out.
Workers used gunpowder to loosen the hard ground. Then, steam shovels removed the loosened material. Other steam-powered machines removed mud, clay, and rock. All the hard material was used to build up the land around the docks. The mud was used to seal the area from water.
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Railways and Docks
Before the docks opened, 27 miles (43 km) of railways were built. These connected the docks to the coalfields. At its busiest, there were 88 miles (142 km) of main tracks and 108 miles (174 km) of side tracks. There were also many bridges and tunnels. The main Barry railway line went from the docks to the Rhondda coalfields.
The Porthkerry Viaduct was built for another railway line and is still standing. It's a stone bridge with sixteen arches. It is 110 feet (34 m) high at its tallest point. It opened in 1900.
The original dock plan was changed to make sure the foundations were on solid rock. A narrower dock was planned at first. But they decided to make the south wall further south. A "mole" (a long pier) was added in the middle of the dock. This increased the length of the loading areas. Thirty locomotives worked inside the dock area to carry materials. At its busiest, 3,000 workers were on the construction site. Work continued day and night, lit by electricity.
Finishing the Docks
The docks were almost finished by September 1888. A large floating gate, called a caisson, was built at the sea entrance. Water was let into the docks on June 29, 1889. The water level slowly rose over a few tides. On July 13, 1889, the caisson was floated into place. This allowed the tide to flow freely.
The official opening happened on July 18, 1889. Mrs. Lewis Davis and David Davies cut the ribbon. Two thousand guests watched. The first ship, SS Arno, sailed into the dock. Six coal loading points were ready and loaded coal onto six ships.
In this first stage, over 5 million cubic yards (3.8 million cubic meters) of earth were dug out. A lot of stone, brick, and timber were used. The docks had a water area of 107 acres (43 hectares). The total cost of this first phase was about £2 million.
No. 2 Dock, to the east of the first dock, was approved in 1893. Work started in 1894 and finished in 1898. The Docks Office building was built from 1897 to 1900. A statue of David Davies stands in front of it. The building was damaged by fire in 1984 but has been restored. It is now used by the Vale of Glamorgan Council.
What Facilities Did Barry Docks Have?
Entrance Channel
The dock entrance is on the east side of Barry Island. This protects it from winds from the west. Two large stone walls, called breakwaters, protect the entrance from other winds. These breakwaters are very big, 46 feet (14 m) high and 200 feet (61 m) wide at the bottom. There is a 350-foot (107 m) gap between them. A dredged channel, 1,455 feet (443 m) long, leads to the dock basin. This channel is at least 2.5 meters (8.2 ft) deep. At high tide, it can be 14 meters (46 ft) deep.
The Barry Docks West Breakwater Light, a white lighthouse, was built in 1890. It is 30 feet (9.1 m) tall and still helps guide ships.
There are also places for yachts and small boats to moor on the west side of the tidal basin.
Dock Basin
The original entrance to the docks is 80 feet (24 m) wide. It has two iron gates that open and close using water pressure. This entrance leads into the Basin (sometimes called No.3 dock). The Basin is 600 feet (180 m) by 500 feet (150 m) and covers 7 acres (2.8 hectares). At its northwest end, the Basin connects to No.1 dock. This connection is also 80 feet (24 m) wide and has another pair of gates. This means the Basin can act like a lock. It can adjust its water level to match the rising tide. This helps wide ships enter or leave the docks.
The walls of the basin are very strong. They are built of limestone and sandstone. They are 50 feet (15 m) high and 17 feet (5.2 m) thick at the bottom. The Basin gates have many small openings. These allow water to be quickly drained or let in.
Lady Windsor Lock
At first, ships could only enter the docks for a few hours during high tide. The Lady Windsor Lock opened on January 4, 1898. It was named after the company chairman's wife. It is 647 feet (197 m) long and 65 feet (20 m) wide. It opens directly to the sea. It is 60 feet (18 m) deep and can be split into two smaller locks. When it opened, Lady Windsor was said to be the largest and deepest lock in the world.
Ships that need 13 feet (4.0 m) of water can enter and leave at low tide during spring tides. Ships needing 18 feet (5.5 m) can enter at low tide 15 days a month. Ships usually use Lady Windsor Lock. The Basin is used for very wide ships or when Lady Windsor Lock is being repaired.
The Docks Themselves
About 200 acres (81 hectares) between the island and the mainland were used for docks, quays, and other facilities.
No.1 dock, the first one built, is 3,400 feet (1,000 m) long and 1,100 feet (340 m) wide. It covers about 70 acres (28 hectares). Its western end splits into two arms. The dock was wide enough for even the largest ships to turn around. There used to be a dry-dock (for repairing ships) here. But it has been filled in due to new developments.
No.2 dock, also called the "New dock," opened in 1898. The first ship entered it on October 10, 1898. John Jackson, who worked on Tower Bridge, was the contractor. No.2 Dock is 3,338 feet (1,017 m) long and 400 to 600 feet (120 to 180 m) wide. It used to connect to No.1 dock with a swing bridge, but this was removed after 1999.
Machines and Workers
The docks were designed to load coal onto ships using many "coal tips" and cranes. All the machines were powered by hydraulic pressure. This power came from three engine houses. An engineer's report from 1901 said: "The tips can lift 20 tons. All tips have two weigh-bridges. The machines are powered by hydraulic pressure from three engine-houses. These houses have nine pairs of engines. Steam is supplied by twenty-five boilers. The pressure in the pipes is 750 pounds per square inch. The whole docks, coal-tips, and sidings are lit by electricity."
The coal tipping cranes were high above the water. After being weighed, a loaded coal wagon (holding about 10 tons) was pulled onto a special platform. This platform could be raised or lowered. Using hydraulic power, the platform tilted. The coal then slid out of the wagon and down a chute into the ship's hold. At first, the coal went into a special box to prevent it from breaking. This box was lowered into the ship's hold. As the hold filled, the coal would just slide down the chute. Workers called "coal trimmers" would spread the coal evenly in the ship.
Empty wagons were then moved off the platform and weighed again. Then they rolled down a slope to the "empties" siding. Two men could empty a wagon in one minute. One man moved the wagon, and the other operated the hydraulics. In 1890, an engineer reported that 400 tons could be shipped in one hour from a single tip. Later, movable tipping hoists were added. This allowed coal to be loaded into two parts of a ship at the same time.
Barry Docks were known for how quickly ships could be loaded and unloaded. This was thanks to many railway lines and storage areas. It was also due to the skilled workers: the "shunters" (who moved wagons), the "tippers" (who tipped the coal), and the "trimmers" (who spread the coal). Tippers worked in teams of four. Their wages were based on the amount of coal loaded.
History of Barry Docks
The Busy Years
There was a big demand for coal between 1890 and 1914. The docks quickly became very successful. By the end of 1889, Barry had exported over 1 million tons of coal. In 1890, it shipped over 3 million tons. In 1891, the company changed its name to the Barry Railway Company. Lord Windsor was the chairman, and David Davies managed the company. In 1899, 3,000 ships used the dock, taking 7 million tons of coal. By 1903, the docks shipped 9 million tons. Most of this coal went overseas to power steam engines. The Royal Navy especially wanted the smokeless Welsh coal from Barry.
In 1896, a railway line was built to a new station on Barry Island. This quickly made Barry Island a popular day trip spot with shops and a funfair. Companies also started offering paddleboat cruises from a pier at the docks.
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Ships moored, ready to load coal (1910)
Besides coal, Barry also exported wood, iron, and other goods. In 1909, between 8,000 and 10,000 people worked at the docks. The town of Barry had about 33,000 people. Most of them were dockworkers, their families, or people who supplied their needs. In 1913, Barry shipped 11.05 million tons of coal. This made it the world's largest coal port, beating Cardiff. Imports were only 11% of the total volume that year. The company was very profitable.
When World War I (1914–18) began, the government took control of all railways and docks. There was a lot of work at the docks. They continued to export coal, wood, and hay. They also imported grain and loaded naval ships with supplies. Larger 20-ton and later 30-ton wagons were introduced. By 1920, the Barry Railway Company had 3,169 workers and many locomotives and wagons.
Falling Off
The British Railways Act of 1921 combined many railway companies into four big systems. The Barry Railway Company joined the Great Western Railway (GWR) in 1922. The GWR became the world's largest dock owner. With ports in Barry, Cardiff, and other places, the GWR shipped over 50 million tons each year. Three-quarters of this was South Wales coal.
There was a short boom in 1923. The GWR invested a lot to handle the new 20-ton wagons. But coal production in Wales dropped a lot after 1923. Ships also started using oil instead of coal.
In May 1926, the GWR was involved in the General Strike. They kept running trains while miners were on strike. This caused bad feelings for many years. The mines stayed closed until late 1926. This caused big losses for the GWR. Road transport also started to compete. In October 1929, the Wall Street crash began the Great Depression. By 1935, export volumes at GWR ports were only 55% of their 1923 peak. The next year, the GWR closed the port of Penarth "temporarily."
During World War II (1939–45), Barry Docks were used to bring in war supplies. Barrage balloons protected the docks from air attacks. The US Army built a large camp in 1942 for troops who worked at the docks. American soldiers imported huge amounts of food through Cardiff and Barry Docks. This caused some unhappiness among local people who had wartime rations.
In early 1944, there was a lot of activity getting ready for the Normandy landings. Barry Docks was a place where troops boarded ships for this invasion. Porthkerry Park was used to store vehicles and weapons. Over 15,000 tons of equipment and 4,000 troops left Barry Docks for Normandy. After the invasion, coal was shipped from Barry to French ports.
After the war, in 1947, all railways and ports in Britain became government-owned. The Geest company used the docks to import bananas from 1959 until the 1980s. After they stopped, the port continued to decline. In 1976, coal shipments from the port ended. In 1981, the last coal tip was removed. In 1981, Associated British Ports (ABP) took control of the ports. ABP is now the largest port operator in Britain. As of 2013, it owned 22 ports, including Barry.
The Scrapyard Story
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Woodham & Sons was a company founded in 1892. They started as a dock business and later moved into road transport and scrap metal. In 1957, British Railways began to get rid of many old wagons and steam locomotives. Woodham's started taking these for scrap. They stored more and more wagons and locomotives on tracks near the oil terminal. They also built new tracks on land that used to be a pond.
Woodham's focused on scrapping wagons first. Locomotives were harder to cut up. By August 1968, Woodham's had bought 297 locomotives. Of these, 217 were still at the scrapyard. Starting in 1968, people who wanted to save old trains began buying the locomotives. Dai Woodham sold them for their scrap metal value. More than 200 steam locomotives were saved between 1968 and 1989.
Barry Docks Today
New Buildings and Homes
A Butlins holiday camp opened on Barry Island in 1966. It closed in 1996. In 2005, permission was given to build homes on the campsite. The funfair on the Island is still open today.
In 1993, a project called the Barry Joint Venture started. Its goal was to redevelop the area around the first dock, which was no longer used. The soil in the West Pond area was polluted from past industrial use. As part of the clean-up, it was decided to fill two unused dry-docks with this contaminated soil. A court approved this plan in 1995.
Permission was given for many new shops and homes at Waterfront Barry. In 2001, Morrisons opened a new supermarket. A retail park with other shops was finished by 2004. By 2015, this park had stores like Pets at Home and Halfords. New apartments were also built. By 2011, there were 686 new homes, a health center, and more shops.
In 2007, a £350 million project was announced. It planned 2,000 new homes and businesses in the waterfront area. A smaller £230 million plan was approved in 2011. This included a new road, a school, a hotel, restaurants, and public spaces. In 2008, the first of two new medical centers was built. In 2009, a new footbridge opened. It connects Thompson Street to the medical center and new shops. In 2010, the second medical center opened. In 2012, work began on a new hotel, which opened as a Premier Inn in 2014. In April 2015, a new Asda supermarket and petrol station opened. This took up land where old oil tanks and railway tracks used to be. The old hydraulic engine house was also renovated. It now has an Espresso bar and parking.
Current Business Operations
By the end of the 1900s, the docks no longer exported coal. But they did handle some coke. As of 2014, Associated British Ports (ABP) still operates the docks. The port covers 531 acres (215 hectares). The docks are connected to the M4 motorway by a road. They are also linked to the railway network for containers. They have cranes and equipment for handling goods.
The Barry chemicals complex is next to the docks. Other industrial areas, like the Atlantic Trading Estate, are also nearby. In 2007, the Docks handled 456,000 tons of cargo. Most of this (370,000 tons) was chemicals. The docks handle liquid chemicals for companies like Dow Corning. The port also handles dry goods like scrap metal, steel, cement, and wood. It imports timber from Scandinavia and the Baltic region. In 2010, Barry Docks handled 281,000 tons of cargo. In 2012, the docks directly employed 23 full-time workers.
In June 2014, the Vale of Glamorgan Council approved a plan for a solar farm. This solar farm would be built by ABP on unused land at the dock. It would cover 51 acres (21 hectares). The power would go directly to businesses at the port. Any extra power would go into the main electricity grid. The £5 million solar farm was built. It started working in August 2015 and can provide 4.5 MWh of electricity.
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Barry Dock Offices in 2008
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View from Barry in 2004
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Scrap vehicles and rusting metal at Barry Docks in March 2009
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Laid-up shipping in No.1 dock, pre-1981
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Sea wall and former tip station
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Images for kids
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View from the south (2010)
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The Bendricks looking west. The lighthouse at the entrance to the channel leading to the docks is just visible with Barry island on the skyline
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The Old Harbour, Barry, looking north towards the causeway that was built to Barry Island
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The docks in Barry today
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David Davies
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Lord Windsor (later Earl of Plymouth) holds out spade to cut the first sod of Barry Dock on Castleland Point in 1884
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No.1 Dock under construction
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Restored locomotive 6024 King Edward 1 crosses the Porthkerry viaduct near Barry in May 2007
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The docks in 1901. The west pond, later filled in, is visible to the left of the No. 1 Dock. The No. 2 Dock is to the right.
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Opening day in 1889
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Entrance to Barry Dock (1897) by William Lionel Wyllie
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Breakwater under construction
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The outer tidal basin, breakwaters and lighthouse (2008)
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Plan from 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica
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No.1 dock ready for opening (1889)
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Barry Docks c. 1900 by William Lionel Wyllie showing a ship at a tip station
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Barry hydraulic pumphouse, with Woodham's yard in the foreground
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Coal tip at the No. 1 Dock in 1913
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Harbour entrance, Barry Island, paddle steamers of the P & A Campbell fleet (c. 1908)
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Ships moored, ready to load coal (1910)
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Barry No. 1 Dock from the Great Western Railway Magazine, July 1922. The spur lines curve into the tip stations
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Hydraulically-operated rolling bridge built by the Darlington Carriage and Wagon Works, now moribund. It crossed the passage between No.1 Dock and the basin, carrying a single line railway track. Two were established, the other for bridging the Lady Windsor lock. Along with its control building (often referred to as a signal box) it is now a listed structure.
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Woodham's Yard in the 1970s
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Waterfront development at the original dock, which is no longer operational
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Docks in 2010
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Barry Dock Offices in 2008
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Barry Docks - geograph.uk - 22009.jpg
View from Barry in 2004
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Scrap vehicles and rusting metal at Barry Docks in March 2009
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Laid-up shipping in No.1 dock, pre-1981
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Sea wall and former tip station
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