Barry Docks Construction
Plans for the construction of docks at Barry materialised in 1883 as the goal of a group of mine owners, including David Davies and John Cory. The plans progressed in 1884 as the group gained permission for the development on the Barry shoreline. Under the expertise of engineer John Wolfe Barry, the site was drained of water by the construction of three dams, located between Barry island and the mainland. This was not straightforward as the dams sat on a foundation of mud, meaning they were initially liable to sinking. However, in using timber and stone to bolster the structures, the constructors had more success.
By 1889, the first dock was completed and the official opening took place on 18th July, with SS Arno the first ship to sail into the dock.
No. 2 Dock was constructed between 1894 and 1898, and further expansions took place in 1914. The growth of Barry Docks coincides with the Welsh coal boom which peaked in 1913.
There was also a significant development of the railway system around Barry town at the time, connecting the docks to the coalfields of south Wales. This phase of construction also saw the building of some of Barry town's iconic landmarks, such as the Porthkerry Viaduct, which opened in 1900.
