Cardiff Pilotage Records

Pilot boarding cards which give the name of the ship, registered tonnage, details of the passage, signatures of captain and the pilot. The majority of the boarding cards are not dated, although some have a 1870s date printed on them. The ledger records the daily traffic of pilots, listing names of ships and the shipping company, the pilot’s name and number and the charge made, March to May 1869.

Up until 1861 the port of Cardiff was placed under Bristol as far as pilotage was concerned since Bristol’s trade formerly constituted the main commerce of the West. However, due to the significant increase in trade Cardiff was granted a separate Pilotage Board free from Bristol control under The Bristol Channel Pilotage Act of 1861. The original Board consisted of the Mayor of Cardiff and representatives of the Town Council, Bute trustees, Penarth Dock Company and Glamorgan Canal Company. It was not until 1880 that the shipowners and pilots were represented on the Board. The number of pilots reached their maximum in the 1890s with 120 licensed Cardiff pilots.

Normal Glamorgan Archives conditions apply.

Donated by private individual, 6 May 2008

Detailed list available.

Fair condition

All records which meet the collection policy of the Glamorgan Archives have been retained.

Unknown