The Morgan family: life at Pencelli

David Morgan’s great-grandchildren are protected from the poverty he suffered as a child by the success of his Cardiff department store, David Morgan Ltd. David’s eldest grandson, D Bernard Morgan, who became head of the company, moved his family from the city during the war years. Installed at ‘Penybont’, his boys enjoy ice-creams from the Pencelli shop and see-saw between work in the garden and a fun exercise regime. Neighbour Miss Hawking hosts croquet at ‘Enderley’.

David Morgan (1833-1919), whose much-loved store was open in The Hayes, 1879 – 2005, was born near Brecon, his family being evicted from a farm at Battle when he was a boy. At 12 he was working for relatives in a Rhymney shop, gaining futher retail experience in Newport, London and Birmingham. Financially secure, he bought Llanbrynean Farm, Llanfynach, in 1874 (a farm tenanted by his mother since 1857) and bought surrounding land in 1918 when Lord Glanusk sold off estates. David Bernard (1899-1955), his wife Eleanor Mary (1908-2002) and children David (1932-2011), John (b. 1935), Richard (b.1937) and Eleanor (b.1941), lived at ‘Penybont’, Pencelli, 1940-52 and Llantrithyd House, Cowbridge 1952-59.