The civil engineer John Wolfe Barry reported that the docks were nearing completion in September 1888.

A caisson  was built at the sea face of the entrance within the temporary stone dam, fitting against the quoins of the entrance.

The stone dam was removed before all the work was completed.

Water was let into the docks on 29 June 1889.

The water was first admitted into the basin and dock by opening the sluices in the culvert at the entrance on a rising tide.
The sluices in the culvert at the west end were also opened.
On the first tide the basin and dock were covered with 5 feet (1.5 m) of water, on the next with 18 feet (5.5 m), and on the tide that followed with 23 feet (7.0 m).

On 13 July 1889 the caisson was floated and taken into the basin by a tug, and the tide could flow freely through the entrance.

The ceremonial opening by David Davies with 2,000 guests took place on 18 July 1889.
The first vessel, SS Arno sailed into the dock shortly after the ribbon was cut.
Six tips were ready for the opening, and loaded coal into six ships.

In the first phase 5,000,000 cubic yards (3,800,000 m³) had been excavated.
200,000 cubic yards (150,000 m³) of rubble masonry had been used, 10,000 cubic yards (7,600 m³) of brickwork, 110,000 cubic feet (3,100 m³) of ashlar, mostly granite, and 220,000 cubic feet (6,200 m³) of timber work.

The docks had a water surface of 107 acres (43 ha) with 242 acres (98 ha) of adjacent quay roads and lands, and 208 acres (84 ha) of land covered by tide, for a total of 557 acres (225 ha).

The cost of the first phase of dock construction was about £850,000, including gates and machinery.

The total cost of the first phase was £2 million.

No.
2 Dock, to the east of the first dock, was authorised in 1893.
Work began in 1894 and was completed in 1898.

A further expansion to the docks were completed in 1914.

The Docks Office was built in 1897–1900 by the architect Arthur E. Bell at the cost of £59,000.

A statue of David Davies by Alfred Gilbert stands in front, unveiled in 1893.

The roof and clock tower were destroyed by fire in 1984, but have been carefully restored.

The building was the Custom House in 1995.

It is now the Dock Office building of the Vale of Glamorgan Council.
The civil engineer John Wolfe Barry reported that the docks were nearing completion in September 1888. 
A caisson  was built at the sea face of the entrance within the temporary stone dam, fitting against the quoins of the entrance. 
The stone dam was removed before all the work was completed.
Water was let into the docks on 29 June 1889.
The water was first admitted into the basin and dock by opening the sluices in the culvert at the entrance on a rising tide. The sluices in the culvert at the west end were also opened. On the first tide the basin and dock were covered with 5 feet (1.5 m) of water, on the next with 18 feet (5.5 m), and on the tide that followed with 23 feet (7.0 m).
On 13 July 1889 the caisson was floated and taken into the basin by a tug, and the tide could flow freely through the entrance.
The ceremonial opening by David Davies with 2,000 guests took place on 18 July 1889. The first vessel, SS Arno sailed into the dock shortly after the ribbon was cut. Six tips were ready for the opening, and loaded coal into six ships.
In the first phase 5,000,000 cubic yards (3,800,000 m³) had been excavated. 200,000 cubic yards (150,000 m³) of rubble masonry had been used, 10,000 cubic yards (7,600 m³) of brickwork, 110,000 cubic feet (3,100 m³) of ashlar, mostly granite, and 220,000 cubic feet (6,200 m³) of timber work.
The docks had a water surface of 107 acres (43 ha) with 242 acres (98 ha) of adjacent quay roads and lands, and 208 acres (84 ha) of land covered by tide, for a total of 557 acres (225 ha).
The cost of the first phase of dock construction was about £850,000, including gates and machinery. 
The total cost of the first phase was £2 million.
No. 2 Dock, to the east of the first dock, was authorised in 1893. Work began in 1894 and was completed in 1898. 
A further expansion to the docks were completed in 1914.
The Docks Office was built in 1897–1900 by the architect Arthur E. Bell at the cost of £59,000.
A statue of David Davies by Alfred Gilbert stands in front, unveiled in 1893.
The roof and clock tower were destroyed by fire in 1984, but have been carefully restored.
The building was the Custom House in 1995.
It is now the Dock Office building of the Vale of Glamorgan Council.
Barry Docks