Volume Six - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Select Aspects - Growth and development at Cogan . .

The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is at present disused : in the chancel are some ancient monuments, among which are several of the family of Herbert, of Cogan Pill, an ancient mansion now converted into a farm-house. The poor children of this parish have the privilege of attending the school at Llandough. An average annual expenditure of £39 15s. is applied for the support of the poor.'

The Population of Cogan expanded considerably after the Tidal Harbour and Dock was constructed and opened for traffic as may be appreciated from the following table based upon Census data:

The 1861 census shows us that Pill Street had 49 properties of which 26 were numbered. The heads of households for house numbers 7 to 26 inclusive included as their stated occupation a Publican, a greengrocer, an elderly lady, two masons and 15 labourers.

However, in the 1871 census, Pill Street is referred to as "Company Row" and had only 38 properties. The probable reason is that the land was owned by the Penarth Harbour, Dock and Railway Co. and that the houses were built by them for the use of company employees.

From 1865 onwards the number employed at the docks, on the railway or those who “followed the sea” increased with the opening of the docks.