The 19th century in Pentyrch was defined both by rural and industrial life. Often the two aspects were interlinked. Work was extremely hard on the mostly unrelentiug farm-Iand; also in the searing heat of the lronworks and the dangerous coal-workings that tunnelled into the Garth. Despite the gruelling demands of earning a living people found the time for worship, also to pursue cultural and leisure activities.
In the middle of the century several terraces of stone dwellings were built to accommodate iron workers and colliers; these were in addition to the typical single thatched-roof homes of ancient origin. The Pentyrch Hunt under the mastership of Colonel Lewis of Grenmeadow was in its heyday; the pack of black and tan hounds bred by Daniel Williams of Llwyndaddu was much admired. Then came the rugby and the cricket. Headmaster Morgan Thomas of the
