In plain site dominating the Northern rampart of the Barry number one dock, are these unusual structures that seemingly leap out from the dock side into the water. Six of these structures now survive, four with arches; there were once many more.
The image this week is thanks to Joseph Solowyk, who waded into the water to get the shot. The name for these structures are ‘staith’ arches. The arch projecting from the dock shore line (quayside) towards a solid stone plinth, are part of a more complex arrangement that once dominated the Barry dock number one and two basins, back at the end of the Victoria period.
Staith arches and masonry plinths, supported large wooden structures known as hydraulic coal hoists, fed from raised railways, that in turn supported rich coal laden wagons from all over the South Wales valleys. These wagons would offset their load via coal chutes, directly into the waiting cargo ships. These cargo ships would take our coal all around the world.
None of the evidence for the wooden hydraulic coal hoists now survive, I can remember that in the 1980s, the ones that I do remember utilising the ‘staiths’ had long since been replaced with huge iron contraptions.
But, nevertheless, the ‘staith’ arches are a masterpiece of architecture, and they can also be found at dock number two also. Available for use in 1889, at Dock number one, the make up of these structures utilised a wide range of stone sourced from around South Wales, with purple looking engineering bricks from Staffordshire or “Brindle” type and those locally produced bricks, also being utilised. These ‘staiths’ would have been some of the last engineering structures completed at Barry Dock number one, before it opened for trade in 1889. The use of multiple types of stone and brick in the staiths construction, tells us that local superior materials for building had been almost exhausted at this stage, hence sourcing materials from outside the region.
The port of Barry as many know was the chief exporter of coal of any location on the planet in 1913, but a steady decline by 1958, sees the slow removal of the use of the ‘staiths’. Most of the ones that had existed on the South quay of Barry dock number one had long since been removed, after examining an aerial view of the landscape from 1958. By 1964, the wooden hydraulic coal hoists, that remained were being demolished, and some replaced with new structures.
Moreover, we see that on the Northside of Dock number one, is where the space between some of the staiths have been filled in, and area reclaimed for building projects. But, those staiths that remains are fortunate in telling us part of the story of the Barry and District landscape.
One thing is clear is that the staiths, offer us a picture of evolution at the docks. Various concretions have built up on these architectural masterpieces, and are home to various crustaceans; barnacles dominate this assemblage.
Many thanks for joining us for our rich Barry and District heritage.
