By the mid-19th century, the potential wealth of the South Wales Coalfield was unapparent to many, but provided great opportunities to those with the resources and knowledge to exploit it.

[2][3] In January 1896, 57 miners were killed by an underground explosion in the Tylorstown pits, newly taken over by the Ferndale Colliery; the blast was so powerful it blew the winding gear off the top of the pitshaft.

[4] Research on the causes of the fatalities in the Tylorstown disaster conducted by Prof John Scott Haldane was instrumental in the introduction of canaries to detect the presence of carbon monoxide in mines.

[6] The local passenger train line closed in 1964 following the Beeching Axe which also limited the prospects of easy commuting to Cardiff.

It is the last remaining miners' institute in the Rhondda Valley, and is now run as a community hub putting on shows, classes and a coffee shop by volunteers.

In 2007, a raid was carried out and a £1m a year cannabis growing operation was discovered, believed to be one of the largest found in Wales at the time.

[9] The Rhondda Fach Sports Centre is located in Tylorstown, featuring a gym, squash court & various other fitness facilities.

In the wake of Storm Dennis on 16 February 2020, a slip occurred at the Llanwonno coal tip[13] on the slopes of Cefn Gwyngul east of Tylorstown.

[citation needed] The village was also home to world boxing champion Jimmy Wilde, the "ghost with a hammer in his hand".

Some scenes for the Sky TV comedy Stella were filmed in Tylorstown, and an aerial view of the village appears in the title sequence.