Bristol_and_Somerset-L Archives

From: "Robert W. Dainton" <>
Subject: Somerset Dock Builders
Date: Wed, 2 Aug 2000 09:14:40 -0400

Several people have asked me off-line different questions about South Wales Docks and the Somerset connection. First, I do not have access to the records. Secondly I do not know where the records are now. Over twenty years ago when I looked at them to trace my family connections I noticed an inordinate number of listed persons whom were entered into the various ledgers as coming from Somerset, Wiltshire and Bristol. Most of the Wiltshire people came from the Bradford on Avon area. There were dozens of "Quarrymen" from Odd Down (Bath), Stone masons from Bath and Bristol, Carpenters and numerous other skilled trades as well as general labourers from various Somerset towns - though the most of them were from North East Somerset. I perused other names and where they were from mentioned in the ledgers in intrest only. I did not make notes of names that were not of interest to me - sorry. What I did note was the docks names:

The Cardiff Docks were collectively known as The Bute Docks and made up of the following "Basins" - Queen Alexandria, Roth, Roth Basin, Roth Basin East, and Roth Basin West. I suggest that Penarth Docks and Barry Docks records also be checked. Somerset folk also were involved with the construction of the Newport Docks on the Usk river.

I stated in previous submission to this site, some Somerst and Bristol people stayed on in Souh Wales, but generally not as "Dockers". The dock labourers came from Liverpool, Lancashire.

Regards Robert
New Jersey, USA

This thread:

• Somerset Dock Builders by "Robert W. Dainton" <>