Aberystwyth

Aberystwyth
  • Welsh: Aberystwyth
  • Motto: Gorau Moes Gwasanaeth
    (The best way of life is service)[1]

View of Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth shown within Ceredigion
Population 13,040 (2011)[2]
OS grid reference SN585815
• Cardiff 90 mi (140 km)SE
Principal area
Ceremonial county
Country Wales
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town ABERYSTWYTH
Postcode district SY23
Dialling code 01970
Police Dyfed-Powys
Fire Mid and West Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK Parliament
Welsh Assembly
Website www.aberystwyth.gov.uk

Aberystwyth (Mouth of the Ystwyth, /ˌæbəˈrɪstwɪθ/, Welsh: [abɛɾˈəstʊɨθ]) is a historic market town, administrative centre, and holiday resort within Ceredigion, West Wales, often colloquially known as Aber. It is located near the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol.

Historically part of Cardiganshire, since the late 19th century, Aberystwyth has also been a major Welsh educational centre, with the establishment of a university college there in 1872. At the 2001 census, the town's population was 15,935;[3] it was reduced to 13,040 at the 2011 Census. During nine months of the year, there is an influx of students—to a total number of 10,400 as of September 2012.[4] Including the suburbs of Llanbadarn Fawr, the population is 16,420.

Geography

View of Clarach Bay from Constitution Hill, Aberystwyth

The town is situated near the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol, on the west coast of Wales. Although the name may seem to suggest otherwise, only the River Rheidol passes through the town; following the reconstruction of the harbour, the River Ystwyth skirts the town.

Aberystwyth has a pier and a seafront which stretches from Constitution Hill, at the north end of the Promenade, to the mouth of the harbour at the south, taking in two separate beach stretches divided by the castle. Today, it essentially comprises a number of different areas: Aberystwyth town, Llanbadarn Fawr, Waunfawr, Llanbadarn, Trefechan, Penparcau (the most populous).

Aberystwyth is an isolated town, considering the population density of the United Kingdom. The nearest substantial settlements are located at least 1 hour 45 minutes' drive away: Swansea, to the south, is 70 miles (110 km) away; Shrewsbury, in Shropshire, England, to the east, is 75 miles (120 km) away; and Wrexham, to the north-east, is approximately 80 miles (130 km) away. The Welsh capital, Cardiff, is over 100 miles (160 km) away. London is 210 miles (340 km) distant from Aberystwyth.

Destinations from Aberystwyth
 Cardigan Bay Clarach, Borth, Ynyslas, Aberdyfi, Tywyn, Dolgellau, Porthmadog, Caernarfon, Bangor Waunfawr, Penrhyncoch, Comins Coch, Bow Street, Talybont, Machynlleth, Welshpool, Oswestry, Wrexham
Cardigan Bay Llanbadarn Fawr, Ponterwyd, Llangurig, Llanidloes, Newtown, Shrewsbury, Telford, Birmingham
   Aberystwyth  
Cardigan Bay Trefechan, Penparcau, Llanrhystud, Aberaeron, New Quay, Cardigan, Lampeter, Carmarthen, Swansea, Cardiff Llanilar, Pontrhydfendigaid, Devil's Bridge, Tregaron, Rhayader, Llandrindod Wells, Hereford

Climate

Aberystwyth experiences an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) similar to almost all of the United Kingdom. This is particularly pronounced due to its west coast location facing the Irish Sea. Air undergoes little land moderation and so temperatures closely reflect the sea temperature when winds are coming from the predominant onshore (westerly) direction. The nearest Met Office weather station is Gogerddan, 3 miles to the northeast, and at a similar elevation.

The absolute maximum temperature is 34.6 °C (94.3 °F),[5] set during July 2006. This is also the July record maximum for all of Wales, suggesting that the area's low lying situation, aided by a possible föhn effect when winds are offshore can act to achieve high temperatures on occasion. Typically the warmest day will average 28.0 °C (82.4 °F)[6] and 5.6 days[7] will achieve a maximum of 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) or above.

The absolute minimum temperature is −13.5 °C (7.7 °F),[8] set in January 2010. Typically 39.8 days will register an air frost.

Rainfall averages 1,112 mm (44 in) a year,[9] with over 1mm recorded on 161 days.[10] All averages refer to the 1971–2000 period.

Climate data for Gogerddan, elevation 31m, 1971–2000, extremes 1960–
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 16.1
(61)		 17.8
(64)		 22.8
(73)		 26.2
(79.2)		 27.5
(81.5)		 31.7
(89.1)		 34.6
(94.3)		 32.8
(91)		 31.1
(88)		 23.9
(75)		 18.1
(64.6)		 15.5
(59.9)		 34.6
(94.3)
Average high °C (°F) 7.8
(46)		 8.0
(46.4)		 9.6
(49.3)		 11.9
(53.4)		 15.2
(59.4)		 17.3
(63.1)		 19.3
(66.7)		 19.2
(66.6)		 16.9
(62.4)		 13.9
(57)		 10.5
(50.9)		 8.7
(47.7)		 13.19
(55.74)
Average low °C (°F) 2.2
(36)		 2.2
(36)		 3.4
(38.1)		 4.2
(39.6)		 6.8
(44.2)		 9.7
(49.5)		 12.0
(53.6)		 11.8
(53.2)		 9.8
(49.6)		 7.4
(45.3)		 4.4
(39.9)		 2.8
(37)		 6.39
(43.5)
Record low °C (°F) −13.5
(7.7)		 −11.1
(12)		 −9.4
(15.1)		 −5.1
(22.8)		 −2.6
(27.3)		 0.6
(33.1)		 2.8
(37)		 2.8
(37)		 0.0
(32)		 −4.3
(24.3)		 −11.9
(10.6)		 −12.4
(9.7)		 −13.5
(7.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 103.47
(4.0736)		 77.65
(3.0571)		 88.91
(3.5004)		 61.47
(2.4201)		 60.58
(2.385)		 77.57
(3.0539)		 74.91
(2.9492)		 93.65
(3.687)		 98.59
(3.8815)		 121.02
(4.7646)		 122.63
(4.828)		 121.22
(4.7724)		 1,112.84
(43.8126)
Source: KNMI[11]

Main features of the town

Aberystwyth is a tourist destination, and forms a cultural link between North Wales and South Wales. Constitution Hill, scaled by the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway, gives access to panoramic views and to other attractions at the summit, including a camera obscura. Scenic Mid Wales landscape within easy reach of the town includes the wilderness of the Cambrian Mountains, whose valleys contain forests and meadows which have changed little in centuries. A convenient way to access the interior is by the preserved narrow-gauge Vale of Rheidol Railway.

Although the town is relatively modern, there are a number of historic buildings, including the remains of the castle and the Old College of Aberystwyth University nearby. The Old College was originally built and opened in 1865 as a hotel, but after the owner's bankruptcy the shell of the building was sold to the university in 1867.[12]

The new university campus overlooks Aberystwyth from Penglais Hill to the east of the town centre. The station, a terminus of the main railway, was built in 1924 in the typical style of the period, mainly in a mix of Gothic, Classical Revival, and Victorian architecture.

The town is the unofficial capital of Mid Wales, and several institutions have regional or national offices there. Public bodies located in the town include the National Library of Wales, which incorporates the National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales, one of six British regional film archives. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales maintains and curates the National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW), providing the public with information about the built heritage of Wales. Aberystwyth is also the home to the national offices of UCAC and Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh Language Society), and the site of the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research. The Welsh Books Council and the offices of the standard historical dictionary of Welsh, Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, are also located in the town.

History

Mesolithic

There is evidence that during the Mesolithic Age the area of Tan-y-Bwlch at the foot of Pen Dinas (Penparcau) was used as a flint knapping floor for hunter-gatherers making weapons from flint that was deposited as the ice retreated.[13]

Bronze and Iron Ages

The remains of a Celtic fortress on Pen Dinas (or more correctly 'Dinas Maelor'), a hill in Penparcau overlooking Aberystwyth, indicates that the site was inhabited before 700 BC.[14][15] On a hill south of the present town, across the River Ystwyth, are the remains of a medieval ringfort believed to be the castle from which Princess Nest was abducted. This rare survival is now on private land and can only be accessed by arrangement.[16]

Middle Ages

The recorded history of Aberystwyth may be said to date from the building of a fortress in 1109 by Gilbert Fitz Richard (grandfather of Richard de Clare, known as Strongbow, the Cambro-Norman lord notable for his leading role in the Norman invasion of Ireland). Gilbert Fitz Richard was granted lands and the lordship of Cardigan by Henry I, including Cardigan Castle. The fortress built in Aberystwyth was located about a mile and a half south of today's town, on a hill over the south bank of the Ystwyth River.[17] Edward I replaced Strongbow's castle in 1277,[18] after its destruction by the Welsh.[19] His castle was, however, built in a different location, at the current Castle Hill, the high point of the town. Between the years 1404 and 1408 Aberystwyth Castle was in the hands of Owain Glyndŵr but finally surrendered to Prince Harry (the future King Henry V of England). Shortly after this, the town was incorporated under the title of Ville de Lampadarn (the ancient name of the place being Llanbadarn Gaerog or the fortified Llanbadarn, to distinguish it from Llanbadarn Fawr, the village one mile (1.6 km) inland. It is thus styled in a Royal charter granted by Henry VIII but, by Elizabeth I's time, the town was invariably named Aberystwyth in all documents.[20]

Early modern era

Aberystwyth Bay from a 1748 survey by Lewis Morris (1701–1765)
Aberystwyth at around 1840. Crane, W., fl. ca. 1835-1850, lithographer.

In 1649, Parliamentarian troops razed the castle,[21] so that its remains are now inconsiderable, though portions of three towers still exist. In 1988, an excavation within the castle area revealed a complete male skeleton, deliberately buried. Though skeletons rarely survive in Wales' acidic soil, this skeleton was probably preserved by the addition of lime from the collapsed building. Affectionately known as "Charlie" and now housed in the Ceredigion Museum in the town, he probably dates from the English Civil War period, and is likely to have died during the Parliamentarian siege. His image is featured in one of nine mosaics created to adorn the castle's walls.[22]

Hafod Uchtryd was a mansion built by Thomas Johnes from 1783, part of it being designed by John Nash. The landscaped gardens were formed by blasting away parts of hills to create vistas. Roadways and bridges were built and hundreds of thousands of trees were planted. The result was a landscape that became famous and attracted many visitors including Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and it is believed to have inspired a passage in his poem Kubla Khan. The house was demolished in 1955, but the landscape remains today.[23]

Rural industries and craftsmen were an important part of life in a country town. The local trade directory for 1830 shows that there were in Aberystwyth:[24] Twenty boot makers, eight bakers, two corn millers, eleven carpenters and joiners, one cooper, seven tailors, two dressmakers, two straw hat makers, two hat makers, three curriers, four saddlers, two tinsmiths, six maltsters, two skinners, four tanners, eight stonemasons, one brewer, four lime burners, three shipwrights, three wheelwrights, five cabinet makers, one nail maker, one rope maker and one sail maker.

Victorian era

The Queen's Hotel, Aberystwith
The first Pier at Aberystwyth c.1865
Aberystwyth during the Victorian era

The Cambrian Railways line from Machynlleth reached Aberystwyth in 1864, closely followed by rail links to Carmarthen, which resulted in the construction of the town's impressive station. The Cambrian line opened on Good Friday 1869, the same day that the new 292 metres (958 ft) Royal Pier (designed by Eugenius Birch) opened, attracting 7,000 visitors.[25]

The railway's arrival gave rise to something of a Victorian tourist boom; the town was once even billed as the "Biarritz of Wales".[26] During this time, a number of hotels and fine townhouses were built including the Queens Hotel, later renamed Swyddfa'r Sir (County Office) when used as offices by the town council, and most recently used as the external scenes of the police station in the television show Hinterland. One of the largest of these hotels, "The Castle Hotel", was never completed as a hotel but, following bankruptcy, was sold cheaply to the Welsh National University Committee, a group of people dedicated to the creation of a Welsh University. The University College of Wales (later to become Aberystwyth University) was founded in 1872 in this building.

Aberystwyth was a contributory parliamentary borough until the Third Reform Act, which merged its representation into that of the county in 1885.

In 1895, various businessmen who had been behind the Aberystwyth New Harbour Company formed the Aberystwyth Improvement Company (AIC) to take over the works of the defunct Bourne Engineering & Electrical. In 1896, the AIC completed three projects: the new landside pavilion for the Royal Pier;[27] built the Cambria Hotel (later the United Theological College) and formed Constitution Hill Ltd, to develop a Victorian theme park. Chief engineer George Croydon Marks designed all the AIC developments, including the United Kingdom's longest funicular railway,[28] which takes passengers up a 50% gradient to a park and camera obscura.

Modern history

Aberystwyth Harbour

Aberystwyth hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1865, 1916, 1952 and 1992.[29]

On the night of Friday, 14 January 1938, a storm with estimated wind speeds of up to 90 mph (140 km/h) struck the town. Most of the promenade was destroyed, along with 200 feet (60 m) of the pier. Many properties on the seafront were damaged, with every property from the King's Hall north affected; those on Victoria Terrace suffered the greatest damage. Work commenced on a protective coffer dam until 1940, with total costs of construction coming to £70,000 (equivalent to £2.5 million today).[30]

Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg (Welsh language Society) held their historic first protest on Trefechan Bridge in Aberystwyth, on 2 February 1963.[31] The first independent Welsh Evangelical Church was established in Aberystwyth (see Evangelical Movement of Wales).

On 1 March 2005, Aberystwyth was granted Fairtrade Town status.[32]

In March 2009 mayor Sue Jones-Davies, who had played the role of Judith Iscariot in the film Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979), organised a charity screening of the film. Principal actors Terry Jones and Michael Palin also attended. There is a popular, but incorrect, urban myth that the town had banned the film (as some authorities did) when it was first released.[33]

During the aftermath storms from Cyclone Dirk on Friday 3 January 2014, the town was one of the worst hit in Wales, with enormous swells uprooting boulders from the sea walls, leaving roads and pavements along the promenade buried under a mass of paving stones, bricks, shale and twisted metal.[34][35] Properties on the adjoining promenade were then evacuated for the next five days, including 250 students from the University.[36] Ceredigion Council appealed to the Welsh Assembly Government for funds, whilst Natural Resources Wales are still undertaking surveys and emergency preventative measures.[37]

Governance

Aberystwyth's local government administration has a two-tier structure consisting of two separate councils. As local government is a devolved matter in Wales, the legislation for both Councils is a responsibility of the National Assembly for Wales.

Town Council

Aberystwyth by night (June 1989)

Aberystwyth Town Council is the first tier of local government, which is the closest to the general public; there are 19 elected town councillors from five wards. The last elections were held on the 4 May 2017. The council is responsible for cycle paths, public footpaths, CCTV, public Wi-Fi, bus shelters, parks, gardens (including the castle grounds and the skateboard park) and allotments. The Council is a statutory body which is consulted regarding planning decisions in the town area and makes recommendations to the planning authority, Ceredigion County Council. The Town Council is also involved in leisure, tourism, business[38] (through providing more than half of Menter Aberystwyth's funding in grants), licence applications, wellbeing [39] and environmental health, recycling and refuse collection.

County Council

Ceredigion County Council is another statutory body incorporated by Act of Parliament. It is the second tier of local government in the area and is a unitary authority with a wide range of powers and responsibility. The Council deals with roads (except trunk roads), street lighting, some highways, social services, children and family care, schools and public libraries. Aberystwyth elects six of the 42 councillors in five separate wards (Bronglais, Central, North and Rheidol wards elect one councillor each while Penparcau ward elects two).

National Assembly

Aberystwyth has five Welsh Assembly members, one of whom (Elin Jones) was elected as a constituency AM for Ceredigion, and four who are elected on the regional list for Mid and West Wales.

UK Parliament

The town is in the Ceredigion constituency for elections to the House of Commons. Since June 2017, Aberystwyth's MP has been Ben Lake for the Plaid Cymru.

Culture

Town Library

The first ever public library in Aberystwyth was opened in Compton House, Pier Street on 13 October 1874. In 1882 the library was moved to the Assembly Rooms which were leased to the council for 21 years. The lease expired in 1903 and the library returned to Pier Street, this time to the Old Banking Library at the corner with Eastgate Street, although this was short lived.[40]

A Carnegie library was built in Aberystwyth in 1905, with a grant of £3,000. Located in Corporation Street, it was designed by the architect Walter Payton of Birmingham, who was one of 48 who entered the competition to design the building. It was formally opened on 20 April 1906 by Mrs Vaughan Davies, wife of the local MP.[40]

The Town Library moved to the old Town Hall, now known as Canolfan Alun R. Edwards, Queen's Square, in 2012, following the buildings refurbishment. The County Council vacated the Town Hall in a move to their purpose built offices on Boulevard de Saint-Brieuc in 2009.

National Library of Wales

The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, is the national legal deposit library of Wales. Established in 1907, it is a Welsh Government sponsored body. According to Cyril Evans, the library's centenary events co-ordinator, "The library is considered to be one of the world's greatest libraries, and its international reputation is certainly something that all Welsh men and women are intensely ... proud of".[41] Welsh is the main medium of communication within the organisation; it aims to deliver all public services in Welsh and English.[42]

Arts

The Arts Centre.

Aberystwyth Arts Centre is one of the largest and busiest arts centres in Wales.[43] It encompasses a 312-seat theatre, 900-seat concert hall, 125-seat cinema, and has accompanied studio, galleries, plus public spaces which include cafes and a bar.[44]

Arad Goch is an Arts Council funded community theatre and art gallery based in the town. The premises holds a theatre, gallery, several art studios and meeting rooms, and a darkroom.

Music

Aberystwyth has a live music scene which has produced bands and artists such as:

The University Music Centre promotes a varied programme for instrumentalists, singers and listeners from the university and the wider community.

The University chamber choir, The Elizabethan Madrigal Singers, have been singing in the town since 1950 and continue to hold a number of concerts throughout the year. They can also often be heard singing in local pubs.

Also on a Wednesday evening a number of traditional folk music artist congregate in the popular ale drinkers pub, The Ship and Castle.

Aberystwyth give its name to a well known hymn tune.

Victor Fleming was a violinist and eventually had his own orchestra. He was music director at Aberystwyth for two years.[45]

Sport

Aberystwyth RFC is the local rugby union club. It wasformed in 1947 and it plays in the Welsh Rugby Union leagues.

Aberystwyth Athletic Club was formed in 1955.

Aberystwyth Town F.C. was formed in 1884.

Aberystwyth Cricket Club exists.

There is a boxing club in Penparcau.

There is a golf course in Aberystwyth that opened in 1911.

Welsh language

Ceredigion, the county in which Aberystwyth is located, is one of the four most Welsh-speaking counties in Wales and remained majority Welsh speaking until the 2011 census.

However Aberystwyth has, since its growth as a seaside resort in the Victorian era, been more anglicised than its hinterland, and the rest of the county in general. The university has also attracted many English-speaking students from England, non-Welsh speaking parts of Wales and elsewhere. The 1891 census recorded that, of the 6635 inhabitants who completed the language section, 3482 (52.5%) were bilingual, 1751 (26.4%) were Welsh monoglots, and 1402 people (21.1%) were returned as English monoglots. Ceredigion (then named Cardiganshire) as a whole was 95.2% Welsh-speaking and 74.5% monoglot Welsh.[46] Although the town remained majority Welsh-speaking for many more decades, English had already replaced Welsh in certain domains, such as entertainment and tourism.

By 1961, only 50.0% of the town's population could speak Welsh, compared to 79.5% for Cardiganshire as a whole;[47] in 1971 these numbers had fallen to 44.9% and 67.6% respectively.[48]

The 2001 census reported that, in the seven wards of Aberystwyth, 39% of the residents self-identified as able either to speak, read or write Welsh. This is lower than Ceredigion as a whole (54%) but higher than Wales overall (19%).[49]

Education

National Library of Wales.

Schools

Aberystwyth has two comprehensive schools serving the town and a wide rural area: Ysgol Gyfun Gymunedol Penweddig and Penglais School. Ysgol Gyfun Gymunedol Penweddig uses Welsh as the primary language of tuition; Ysgol Penglais is bilingual and teaches both Welsh- and English-speaking pupils.

Aberystwyth University

Aberystwyth is home to Aberystwyth University whose predecessor, University College Wales, was founded in 1872[18] and renamed "the University of Wales, Aberystwyth" in the mid-1990s. Prior to the college's establishment, Wales had very limited academic-degree capability through St David's College, Lampeter (founded in 1822 but, since 2010, amalgamated with Trinity University College, Carmarthen to become "the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David", with campuses in Carmarthen and Lampeter).

Tourism and local economy

View of Aberystwyth and Cardigan Bay from the National Library of Wales

As well as having two cinemas and a golf course, the town's attractions include:

The all organic dairy unit of Rachel's Organic is based in Glan yr Afon, and is the largest private sector employer in Aberystwyth.[50][51]

Many comment that due to its isolation, Aberystwyth has developed its own micro-economy: while Rachel's employs 130, new Welsh Assembly offices will employ 1000; the local low-pay sector is dominated by students from the university.[51]

The Cambrian News newspaper came to Aberystwyth from Bala in 1870, after it was purchased by Sir John Gibson. Printed in Oswestry, in May 1880 the paper integrated operations in a former Malthouse in Mill Street. Owned by the Read family from 1926, in 1993 printing was contracted out, enabling the move of editorial staff to the current open-plan offices on Llanbadarn Fawr Science Park. On the death of Henry Read, the paper was purchased in 1999 by Sir Ray Tindle, whose company owns more than 200 weekly newspapers in Britain. Now printed in tabloid format, Cambrian News is the second-largest weekly-print circulation newspaper in Wales, with 24,000 copies in six regional editorial versions, read by 60,000 weekly readers. The circulation area of mid, west and north Wales covers 3,000 square miles (7,800 km2).[52]

Since Hinterland has been filmed in and around Aberystwyth, the area is being promoted as an opportunity for tourists to visit filming locations; many are well publicised.[53][54]

Transport

Rail

The Vale of Rheidol runs through the spectacular Rheidol Valley

Aberystwyth is served by Aberystwyth station, in the town centre. The station is the terminus of a two-hourly service provided by Arriva Trains Wales (most trains leave at half-past the odd-numbered hours) over the scenic Cambrian Line to Shrewsbury and Birmingham via Machynlleth and Mid Wales. Connecting services from Machynlleth also provide a link to Gwynedd's west coast as far as Pwllheli. There is no longer a southbound link to Carmarthen via Lampeter: this line fell victim to the Beeching Axe in 1965.

Aberystwyth station is also the terminus of the Vale of Rheidol Railway, a steam-operated narrow gauge heritage railway. Constructed between 1901 and 1902, it was intended to ship mineral cargo, primarily lead, from Devil's Bridge down to Aberystwyth for trans-shipment. By the time it was finished, lead mining was in a deep downturn and, thanks to the Aberystwyth Improvement Company, the railway came to rely largely on the tourist industry, opening for passengers in December 1902. It still remains open for the summer season, offering a journey of 12 miles (19 km).

In 1896, the Aberystwyth Improvement Company formed Constitution Hill Ltd which, under the direction of chief engineer George Croydon Marks, developed the United Kingdom's then longest funicular railway, the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway, which takes passengers up a 50% gradient.[27][28]

Road

The X40 service in Aberystwyth

Two of Wales's important trunk roads, the A487 and A44, meet in the town, with much traffic between north and south-west Wales passing through. The B4574 mountain road linking the town to Rhayader is described by the AA as one of the ten most scenic drives in the world.[55][56]

Aberystwyth is also a hub for Wales's TrawsCymru (formerly TrawsCambria) bus network, which provides regular direct links to Carmarthen (service T1, with occasional journeys through to Cardiff as service T1c),[57] to Bangor via Machynlleth (service T2)[58] and to Cardigan and duty-dependent Pembrokeshire destinations (service T5).[59] There is a daily National Express coach to London and Birmingham, along with local bus services within the town and into the surrounding area.[60]

Port

The port of Aberystwyth, although it is small and relatively inconsequential today, used to be an important Atlantic Ocean entryway. It was used to ship locally, to Ireland and as a transatlantic departure point. Commercially, the once important Cardiganshire lead mines exported from this location.[18]

The importance of maritime trade in the 19th century is reflected in the fact that a lifeboat has been based at Aberystwyth since 1843, when a 27 ft boat powered by six oars was funded by public subscription and placed under the control of the harbourmaster. The RNLI took over the service in 1861 and established Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station which celebrated 150 years in 2011. The station uses the Atlantic 85-class inshore lifeboat Spirit of Friendship.

Notable people

See Category:People from Aberystwyth

In fiction

Games

Literature

Television

Twinned towns

Aberystwyth is twinned with:[64]

References

  1. ↑ Robert Young. "Wales – Current". Civic Heraldry of England and Wales. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2010.
  2. ↑ "Town population 2011". Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  3. ↑ Usual resident population Archived 23 July 2004 at the UK Government Web Archive Downloadable Excel spreadsheet
  4. ↑ "UCAS".
  5. ↑ "2006 Maximum". Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  6. ↑ "1971-00 Average annual warmest day". Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  7. ↑ "Max >25c days". Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  8. ↑ "2010 minimum". Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  9. ↑ "1971-00 Rainfall". Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  10. ↑ "1971-00 Wetdays". Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  11. ↑ "Climate Normals 1971–2000". KNMI. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  12. ↑ Lewis, W. J. (1980). Born on a Perilous Rock: Aberystwyth Past and Present. Cambrian News (Aberystwyth) Ltd. pp. 171–173. ISBN 0-900439-04-1.
  13. ↑ Houlder, C. H., "The Stone Age!, in J. L. Davies and D. P. Kirkby, Cardiganshire County History, I, (1994), pp. 107–123
  14. ↑ Briggs, C. S., "The Bronze Age", in J. L. Davies and D. P. Kirkby, Cardiganshire County History, I, (1994), p. 216, : appendix V, : no. 15
  15. ↑ Browne, D and Driver, T., Bryngaer Pendinas Hill Fort, A Prehistoric Fortress at Aberystwyth, (2001)
  16. ↑ Houlder, C.H., (1957), "Recent Excavations in Old Aberystwyth", Ceredigion, III, no. 2, pp. 114–117
  17. ↑ Griffiths, Ralph A., "The Three Castles at Aberystwyth", Archaeologia Cambrensis, V.126, 1977, pp. 74–87
  18. 1 2 3 Hoiberg, Dale H., ed. (2010). "Aberystwyth". Encyclopædia Britannica. I: A-ak Bayes (15th ed.). Chicago, IL: Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. p. 30. ISBN 978-1-59339-837-8.
  19. ↑ Spurgeon, C. J., The Castle and Borough of Aberystwyth, 1973, p. 5
  20. ↑ Griffiths, R.A., (1978), 'Aberystwyth' in Griffiths, R. A., Boroughs of Mediaeval Wales, 19, 25–7
  21. ↑ Spurgeon, C. J., The Castle and Borough of Aberystwyth, 1973, p. 12
  22. ↑ "Aberystwyth Castle Mosaics" BBC Mid Wales
  23. ↑ Keen, Richard & Burgum, Ian Wales, p. 88.
  24. ↑ Jenkins, J. Geraint. Ceredigion: Interpreting an Ancient County. Gwasg Careg Gwalch, 2005; p. 84.
  25. ↑ "Aberystwyth Royal Pier". visitaberystwyth.com. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  26. ↑ "Ceredigion County Council – Bibliography of Cardiganshire 1600–1968 Aberystwyth". Ceredigion.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  27. 1 2 "Twin Peaks Race 2009". BBC Wales. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  28. 1 2 Riley, Andrew; Blackwood, Lorna (30 November 2007). "Focus on... Aberystwyth". London: The Times. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  29. ↑ "Official Eisteddfodau website". Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
  30. ↑ William Troughton (20 October 2009). "Aberystwyth's great storm of 1938". BBC Wales. Archived from the original on 8 May 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  31. ↑ Ymgyrchu! Website , National Library of Wales, accessed 5 June 2011
  32. ↑ Fairtrade towns list, archived from the original on 1 February 2010, retrieved 16 January 2010
  33. ↑ "Monty Python" BBC Wales
  34. ↑ Paul Roland (5 January 2014). "Wales weather: 22 pictures that reveal the astonishing scale of the damage to Aberystwyth's storm-ravaged seafront". Wales Online. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  35. ↑ "UK storms: Further flooding risk as heavy rain forecast". BBC News. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  36. ↑ "Students evacuated from seafront Aberystwyth". The Independent. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  37. ↑ "'No blank cheques' for Aberystwyth promenade's repair". BBC Wales. 6 January 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  38. ↑ http://www.aberystwyth.gov.uk/en/business
  39. ↑ http://www.legislation.gov.uk/anaw/2015/2/contents
  40. 1 2 "Library Service History". Ceredigion County Council. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
  41. ↑ "National Library Centenary celebrations". BBC Mid Wales. 20 February 2007.
  42. ↑ "National Library of Wales". Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  43. ↑ "Creative Units at Aberystwyth Arts Centre Receive prestigious RIBA Award – Welsh Icons News". Welshicons.org.uk. 25 May 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  44. ↑ http://www.artswales.org.uk/3325.file.dld
  45. ↑ "THE VICTOR FLEMING ORCHESTRA - Regional Programme Midland - 11 June 1938 - BBC Genome".
  46. ↑ Geraint H.Jenkins: The Welsh Language and its social domains 1801-1911. Cardiff, University of Wales Press.2000.
  47. ↑ Census 1961, Wales, including Monmouthshire: Report on Welsh Speaking Population. London: H.M. Stationery Off., 1962. Print.
  48. ↑ Census 1971, Report on the Welsh Language in Wales. Cardiff: H.M. Stationery Off., 1973. Print.
  49. ↑ Neighbourhood Statistics. "ONS Neighbourhood Statistics". Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 June 2012.
  50. ↑ "Jobs – About Us". Rachel's Organics. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  51. 1 2 Nick Servini (10 September 2009). "Tour to test claims of recovery". BBC Wales. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  52. ↑ "150-year celebration". Cambrian News. 8 January 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  53. ↑ http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-05-06/12-reasons-to-visit-aberystwyth-and-the-real-hinterland
  54. ↑ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/hinterland-walks-s4c-ceredigion-tourism-8908721
  55. ↑ Rachael Misstear (11 April 2009). "PM should head West for a 'hidden gem' holiday destination". Western Mail. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  56. ↑ "The Ceredigion Countryside". Visit Wales. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
  57. ↑ https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Resident/Travel%2c%20Roads%20and%20Parking/Public%20Transport/Bus%20Timetables/T1TC.pdf
  58. ↑ https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Resident/Travel%2c%20Roads%20and%20Parking/Public%20Transport/Bus%20Timetables/T2-X28.pdf
  59. ↑ https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Resident/Travel%2c%20Roads%20and%20Parking/Public%20Transport/Bus%20Timetables/T5-X50-554.pdf
  60. ↑ https://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/English/Resident/Travel-Roads-Parking/Public-Community-Transport/Buses/Bus-Timetables/Pages/default.aspx
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  62. ↑ https://www.aberystwyth.org.uk/more/hinterland-filming-locations.shtml
  63. ↑ http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/hinterland-walks-s4c-ceredigion-tourism-8908721
  64. ↑ "Twinning". Aberystwyth. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  65. ↑ "British towns twinned with French towns". Archant Community Media Ltd. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
  66. ↑ "Patagonia twinning charter signed". BBC Wales. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
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