Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Port broadside view of tug S.S. CARDIFF ROSE at Cardiff Docks.

The 181 gross ton steam tug Cardiff Rose in the West Bute Dock, c. 1959. Built at South Shields in 1914 as Lady Duncannon for the Dover Harbour Board, she came to Cardiff in 1958 when she was purchased by I. C. Guy & Co. of Cardiff. This firm went into voluntary liquidation in 1963 when most of its local interests were taken over by R. & J. H. Rea of London.

Source: Shipping at Cardiff: Photographs from the Hansen Collection 1920-1975 by David Jenkins, 1993.

Built 1914 by J P Rennoldson & Son, South Shields, as LADY DUNCANNON for Dover Harbour Board. Her twin screws were powered by two 2-cylinder steam engines built by Rennoldson. She served under the Admiralty during both World wars. 1958 – Sold to W.J.Guy & Son Ltd., Cardiff, and renamed CARDIFF ROSE. Her hull was holed by a tanker’s propellor as she was assisting the vessel out of Mountstuart Dry Dock on 30th March 1961. She was beached nearby and although repairs were made by Cardiff Pontoon Co., these turned out to be unsatisfactory and she was broken up by Haulbowline Industries, Passage West, Cork, later that year. (ref :- tynetugs.co.uk/ladyduncannon)