Volume Twelve - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - further aspects - A History of Penarth Dock by Roy Thorne . . .

During the earlier years of the last century when the coal field was being developed it was possible for enterprising men to move from the position of middleman to becoming a colliery owner and exporter.

George Insole was such a man. He was in a position to see the great demand at the dock and to assure himself of a constant supply he decided to sink his own coal pits. He commenced in 1832, but it was his decision to enter the Rhondda in 1844, and specifically at Treorci in 1864 that made him a power in South Wales.

Rev. George Thomas was a landowner at Ystrad Mynach and an Anglican priest, although at the time of his death he held no preferment in the church. His wife was Eliza, the eldest child of William Crawshay of Cyfartha. [156] [7th July 1860]  

He had a mansion at Ystrad Mynach, but at the time of his death in 1860 he was living at Cheltenham. He was buried in a vault at Ystrad Mynach church which he had built at his own expense. He was a great benefactor of the church.

He paid the stipend of the priest at Ystrad Mynach ; he had made a goodly financial contribution to the restoration of Llandaff Cathedral in 1843, and he also sold Llandaff Court, and the estate attached to it, at a very moderate price, to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.

William Sheward Cartwright (1811 or 12 - 1880) was a colliery owner and solicitor. He was a racehorse owner and in his early years was interested in steeple chasing and had a horse named "Penarth". Later he took to flat racing and won the Ascot, Goodwood and Brighton Cups with a horse named "Ely", and the Newmarket Stakes and the Derby with ''George Frederick” in 1874.

In 1852 he bought the Manor of Llandaff from the sons of Sir George Romilly. The Manor of Llandaff then extended over Ely, Fairwater, Gabalfa and Llystalybont. In 1885 the Cartwrights conveyed the Commons to Cardiff Corporation. W. S. Cartwright died at Stow Hill, Newport in May 1880. [1164]