James Coster Edwards, the founder of J. C. Edwards (Ruabon), Ltd., Terra Cotta & Encaustis Tile Manufacturers, was born in 1829. His first venture in clay was in the manufacture of earthenware goods and common bricks. Later he established the Trefynant Works where he began to make sanitary pipes and firebricks. By the end of the 19th century, an important business had been built up at the Trefynant Works.