The Victorian development of Penarth was primarily driven by the shift from iron to coal, transforming it from a small coastal village into a fashionable, seaside, residential town for industrial magnates, the well-to-do and down at the dock, grafters and shirkers alike!

The South Wales valleys shifted its economic and geographical focus from iron production to mining of steam coal which grew rapidly following the Glamorganshire Canal through to Sea Lock at Cardiff in 1798.

We commence this Chapter with a map [528] of the route of the Glamorganshire and Aberdare Canals showing the principal iron works it served in relationship to the coalfield and the outlet for exportation of iron products and the importation of iron ore at Cardiff. The ironworks which evolved at Merthyr are as follows:

Dowlais - (1759 - Guest Family)
Plymouth - (1763 - Richard Hill)
Cyfarthfa - (1765 - Richard Crawshay)
Penydarren - (1784 - Samuel Homfray)

These 'Iron Kings' ruled from c.1760's until the 1840's, following which the 'Coal Kings' became dominant.