Lampeter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lampeter | ||
|---|---|---|
| Statistics | ||
| Population: | 1,989 | |
| Ordnance Survey | ||
| OS grid reference: | Maps for SN578478 | |
| Administration | ||
| Principal area: | Ceredigion | |
| Constituent country: | Wales | |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom | |
| Other | ||
| Police force: | Dyfed-Powys Police | |
| Ceremonial county: | Dyfed | |
| Historic county: | Cardiganshire | |
| Post office and telephone | ||
| Post town: | LAMPETER | |
| Postal district: | SA48 | |
| Dialling code: | +44-1570 | |
| Politics | ||
| UK Parliament: | Ceredigion | |
| European Parliament: | Wales | |
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Lampeter within Ceredigion UA
Lampeter (Welsh: Llanbedr Pont Steffan, or more informally, Llambed) is a town in Ceredigion, Wales, United Kingdom, lying at the confluence of the River Teifi and the River Dulas.
In 1991 the population of the town was recorded as 1,989 people, of which 1,410 were Welsh speaking. Lampeter is therefore the smallest university town in Wales and the United Kingdom. The university, in a normal year, adds a further 1,000 people to the town's population, which gives the rural town a somewhat cosmopolitan feel. Indeed, Lampeter was the first town in Wales to appoint a Mayor from an ethnic minority.
The town is best known for the University of Wales, Lampeter (formerly St David's University College), originally founded in 1822 as a college for ordinands and now a constitutuent part of the University of Wales, primarily awarding degrees in the liberal arts. Its central building, based on an Oxbridge quadrangle was completed in 1827, and was designed by C. R. Cockerell. Its construction is recorded as having cost £16,204 6s 7d.
It was also from Lampeter, in 1968, that William Julian Cayo-Evans first marched his paramilitary nationalist 'Free Wales Army'.
Lampeter and its surroundings are home to a theatre (Theatr Felinfach at Felinfach), a museum and a number of locally owned shops.
[edit] History
Cardiganshire was one of the royal counties established by Edward I after the defeat of Llywelyn the Last (Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf) at Cilmeri in 1282 — Lampeter fell under direct Royal Control. This however had little effect on the culture of the town, as the Welsh language and culture have continued to thrive. The first Borough Charter was granted in 1284 and successive charters allowed many markets and fairs to be held in the wide High Street until the 1930s. One of these fairs was the Dalis Horse Fair.
The earliest reference to Lampeter is believed to be 1187, when Owain Gwynedd destroyed the King's castle of Pont Steffan (Stephen's Bridge in English). The remains of this castle later became the foundations for C. R. Cockerell's college building, and still form part of the university campus.
Lampeter hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1984.
