Site Record

The main anchorage for Cardiff and Penarth. Sailing Directions dating to 1884 note 'This is the safest refuge on the north side of the Bristol channel; for large vessels the space for anchorage is limited, and consequently at times much crowded, and in bad weather, when the banks are covered, its is exposed to a tumbling sea from the southward. Perfect security will, however, be found for a large fleet of coasters on the extensive mud flats above the Cefn-y-wrach which dry up from 18 to 14 feet; the anchor may be let go when the west end of Steepholm is open of Flatholm about a third of its length, and the Penarth engine house chimney open of the dock embankment or flagstaff point; the latter line will clear vessels from taking the ground along the banks of the Taff entrance. In the roads the best anchorage is in the pool, which commences about half a mile southwest of the Middle buoy, and extend to near the Hook; in it are depth from 3 to 5 fathoms, over clay. A good position may be taken up with the west end of the two Holms in one S by W and Penarth coastguard flagstaff a little left of the lifeboat house WNW. Caution is necessary in all cases where the water is shallow and the range of tide so great and rapid, to prevent the vessel grounding on her anchors.'

Sources include:
Admiralty; 1884, Sailing Directions for the Bristol Channel, 4th Ed, pg131
Historic Admiralty Chart 1182_A2, RCAHMW digital collections sourced from the UK Hydrographic Office and published in 1839
Historic Admiralty Chart 2862-A10, RCAHMW Digital Collections sourced from the UK Hydrographic Office and published in 1860

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, September 2014.