Disembarkation- Nicky Rossiter (most read books of all time .TXT) 📖

hope that some steps might be taken to erect a permanent structure on the site. "

Although no details are given, it is safe to assume that the 'work' referred to was the construction of the United States Naval Air Base at Ferrybank, which was to operate in the final year of the Great War giving greater protection to shipping.

Some good news reached the Board on April 1st., 1918 when The Bacon Line announced its intention to run two cargo steamers per week from Wexford.

The shipping interests were not the only ones occupying the minds of the Commissioners that year, they also entered into correspondence with the railway company complaining that the scheduling of mail trains was detrimental to the trade and commerce of Wexford. They requested that the morning mail arrive at 11.30 and the afternoon mail depart at 3.30, thereby giving business people a chance to reply to letters that same day.

In their more traditional role the Commissioners determined to regulate the amount of goods stored on the quays by implementing a charge of Id. Per square yard per week on all goods left on Wexford quays for more than 48 hours. During those years and for many years after Wexford looked at times like a combination timber cum scrap yard with incoming lumber stored beside scrap metal from the foundries destined for Haulbowline.

Not only was the storage of timber on the quays causing problems but also its unloading. The Board received complaints in July 1919 from the Gas Company that a number of their lamps on the quay were being damaged during the unloading of timber. They were asked to contact Capt. Busher who would pass on the complaint with a estimate of cost to the offending parties.

The year 1919 saw J.J. Stafford entering the steamship trade with the purchase of two ships, which he named "5.5. Elsie Annie" after his daughter and "5.5, J.F. V. "after his sons James, Frank and Victor.

In September 1920, Wickham Brothers reported to the Board that they had completed new soundings of the harbour and laid a buoy towards the New Channel that showed 9 inches more water over a muddy bottom.

Modernisation was also affecting the quays in 1920. A company whose name unfortunately could not be deciphered in the minute book, applied to the Harbour Commissioners for permission to erect an Electric Standard opposite their premises to facilitate loading and discharging vessels. They also wished to install an electric bollard for hauling wagons. Both applications were agreed.

Part of the facade of Wexford quays was changed in the early hours of June 18th, 1921 when the courthouse that had stood there since 1805, and thus witnessed the great years of Wexford Port, was destroyed by 3 bombs and the resulting fire during the War of Independence. In the subsequent Civil War, the first Wexford fatality was a man killed by a shotgun blast in nearby Monck Street. Because bombs and fires had made the bridge at Carcur unsafe, a new occupation came into being for some Wexford sailors. James, Tom and Edward Walsh provided a boat in those times to ferry the coffin and mourners from Wexford to the cemetery at Crosstown.

In July of 1923, shipping companies demanded that a reduction in dockers wages of 2/ = per day. This led to a strike in all of the Irish ports, which included that of Wexford. The "People" paper reported, "The shipping merchants of Wexford have suspended sailings consequent on the refusal of dockers to agree to the proposed wages reduction. "

Only ships, which had been at sea at the start of the strike, were unloaded over the following weeks, and this was done at the unreduced wage rate. Although the supply of many basic items ran perilously low in the succeeding months, the dispute lasted until November.

In 1925, a large two masted schooner could actually be moored within the Crescent at Wexford. The railway bridge of that era, enclosing the former 'Deep Pool' could be opened to allow access. There is a photo in existence, of the ship Maria Reid actually in the Crescent in that year. She was later towed to a site off the present bridge where she was scuttled to form a barrier aimed at reducing silting of the cot dock located there.

An interesting entry in the Harbour Commissioners minutes for 1925 was;

"The harbour master reported an interview with the captain of 'S.S. Blarney,' and it was decided to put a full pane of red glass in the gas lamp at Custom House corner and a half pane in the gas lamp at Henrietta Street. "

These were rather primitive but effective navigation guides. The red glass was so positioned in the lamp that if a boat coming up the channel could see only white light she was safe, if however a red beam was seen, course had to be altered until white only was visible.

On Tuesday, February 2nd., 1926 the following account of finances was presented to the Commissioners:-

On Deposit-£1500

Current a/c credit - £128 -16 - 5

on Road Board - £5 -10 - 8

Passed for payment;

James Wadding for stones - £6 -12 - 6

James Wadding for carting and spreading stones - £8 - 2 - 0

Wexford Gas Company - £8 - 0 – 0

Invoice P. Radford for 2 uniforms - £10 - 0 - 0

Wickham Brothers for rent of house at Fort - £5 - 0 - 0

Wickham Brothers for rent of flag pole at Fort - £1 - 0 - 0

Post office, phone - £2 -10 -11

Wexford Corporation, water for pilot boat - £2 -10 - 5

Invoice Lett, hire of motor boat for pilot - £6 - 0