Aberaeron

Coordinates: 52°14′31″N 4°15′33″W / 52.24204°N 4.25921°W / 52.24204; -4.25921

Aberaeron
Houses on the quay
Aberaeron  Aberaeron shown within Ceredigion
Population	1,520
OS grid reference	SN458628
Principal area	Ceredigion
Ceremonial county	Dyfed
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ABERAERON
Postcode district	SA46
Dialling code	01545
Police	Dyfed-Powys
Fire	Mid and West Wales
Ambulance	Welsh
EU Parliament	Wales
UK Parliament	Ceredigion
Welsh Assembly	Ceredigion
List of places: UK • Wales • Ceredigion

Aberaeron (from Welsh: Aberaeron meaning "mouth of the River Aeron", Aeron being a Welsh god of war^[1]) is a seaside resort town in Ceredigion, Wales. Situated between Aberystwyth and Cardigan, it is home to the headquarters of Ceredigion County Council. The population was 1520 in 2001.^[2]

History and design

The present town was planned and developed from 1805 by the Rev. Alban Thomas Jones Gwynne. The harbour he built operated as a port and supported a shipbuilding industry in the 19th century. A group of workmen's houses and a school were built on the harbour's north side, but these were reclaimed by the sea.^[3] Steam ships continued to visit the harbour until the 1920s but, in later years, it evolved into a small half-tide harbour for recreational craft. The estuary is also crossed by a wooden pedestrian bridge.

Crafts were an important part of village life. Information recorded in trade directories shows that in 1830, although it was not yet fully developed as a port, there were in Aberaeron one woollen manufacturer, one bootmaker, one baker, one corn miller, one blacksmith, one blacksmith and shovel maker, two shipwrights, one carpenter and one hat maker.^[4]

In the late 1890s, a hand-powered cable car 'The Aeron Express' was built to ferry workers across the harbour when the bridge was demolished by floods. The structure was recreated in the late 1980s as a tourist attraction that ran until the end of summer 1994.

The architecture of Aberaeron is unusual in this part of rural Wales, being constructed around a principal square of elegant Regency style buildings grouped around the harbour. This was the work of Edward Haycock, an architect from Shrewsbury. Some of the architecture was of sufficient interest to feature on British postage stamps.^[3]

Castell Cadwgan

Castell Cadwgan, a 12th-century ringwork fortification around a probable wooden structure, was located by the shore at Aberaeron, but has long since been claimed by the sea. Few traces remain today apart from some mounds of earth, the remains of the enclosure bank, most of the site having been eroded.^[5][6]

In Wales Illustrated in a Series of Views by Henry Gastineau, published in 1810, it states: "Near the town are some remains of an ancient fortress called Castell Cadwgan, thought to have been erected by king Cadwgan, about the year 1148." In A Topographical Dictionary of Wales, published in 1833, Samuel Lewis similarly wrote : "On the sea-shore, near the village, is a circular encampment, designated Castell Cadwgan, and supposed to have been constructed by Cadwgan ab Bleddyn, about 1148." ^[7] However, Cadwgan is recorded as having been killed in 1111.

In Welsh Minstrelsy: Containing the Land beneath the Sea, published in 1824, it states: "Just where [Sarn Ddewi] juts out from the shore is an old fort, called Castell Cadwgan."

Location and features

Aberaeron is located between Cardigan and Aberystwyth on the A487, at a junction with the A482 leading south-east to the university town of Lampeter.

The shoreline consists of generally steep storm beaches of pebbles, although fine sand is visible at low tide levels. Aberaeron south beach was awarded the Blue Flag rural beach award in 2005.^[8] It contains the Harbourmaster Hotel.

The climate is mild and temperate, largely conditioned by the proximity of the relatively shallow sea. However, Aberaeron can suffer from occasional winter frosts when cold air descends the Aeron valley from the upland parts of Ceredigion.

The town is notable for the sale of honey, honey ice-cream and, more recently, honey mustard.

70% of Aberaeron's inhabitants are able to speak Welsh according to the 2001 census.

A life-sized statue of a Welsh cob stallion was donated to the town in 2005 by the Aberaeron Festival of Welsh Ponies and Cobs to denote the area as Welsh Cob country. It was created by sculptor David Mayer.

Dylan Thomas's links with Aberaeron, New Quay and Talsarn have been documented by local author David N Thomas.^[9] The Dylan Thomas Trail runs through Ceredigion, passing through Aberaeron and ending in New Quay^[10]

An annual carnival takes place on the Monday Bank Holiday in August. A colourful procession of floats and a carnival queen moves from the Quay to Alban Square.^[11][12]

Public transport

A regular bus service links the town with Aberystwyth, Lampeter and Carmarthen, with several daily through services to Swansea, Bridgend and Cardiff.^[13][14] Another service connects with New Quay, Aberporth and Cardigan on Monday through Saturday.^[15] Railway service from the former Aberayron railway station was closed to passengers in 1951 and freight in 1965.

Notable people

• Ron Davies, photographer
• Sir Geraint Evans, opera singer, had a home in Aberaeron for more than 30 years

Image gallery

• 

  The River Aeron

• 

  The Black Lion Hotel, on Alban Square

• 

  Harbour at low tide

• 

  Footbridge over the Aeron

• 

  Harbour and hills

• 

  Former workhouse

• 

  The Feathers (former coaching inn)

• 

  Welsh cob statue

• 

  Market Street

• 

  Georgian houses

• 

  Northgate Toll House, c. 1785

• 

  Prince's Avenue

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Aberaeron

• Cymdeithas Aberaeron Society with historical timeline and bibliography
• Official tourism website
• Website of the local Cambrian News
• Aerial photograph of Aberaeron
• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Aberaeron and surrounding area
• The History of Aberaeron At Aberaeron West Wales
• Castell Cadwgan, Aberaeron site

v t e Ceredigion Principal settlements Aberaeron Aberporth Aberystwyth Cardigan Lampeter Llandysul New Quay Tregaron Towns, villages and communities Aberarth Aberbanc Aberffrwd Aberlerry Abermagwr Aber-meurig Aberporth Alltyblacca Betws Ifan Beulah Blaencelyn Borth Bow Street Caemorgan Caerwedros Capel Bangor Capel Dewi Ciliau Aeron Comins Coch Cribyn Cwmann Cwmystwyth Devil's Bridge Dôl-y-bont Eisteddfa Gurig Eglwys Fach Elerch Ffostrasol Furnace Glandyfi Gorsgoch Gwbert Llanarth Llanbadarn Fawr Llanddewi Brefi Llandre (Llanfihangel Genau'r Glyn) Llandyfriog Llandygwydd Llanfarian Llanfihangel-y-Creuddyn Llanfihangel Ystrad Llangeitho Llangoedmor Llangrannog Llangybi Llangynfelyn Llanilar Llanon Llanrhystud Llansantffraed Llanwenog Llechryd Lledrod Lovesgrove Melindwr Mwnt Oakford Penbryn Penparc Penparcau Penrhyn-coch Penuwch Peny-y-garn Ponterwyd Pontrhydfendigaid Pontrhydygroes Pont-Siân Rhydowen Rhydypennau Salem Silian Talgarreg Tal-y-bont Tirymynach Trefeurig Tregaron Tresaith Tre-Taliesin Tre'r Ddôl Troed y Rhiw Troedyraur Upper Borth Waunfawr Y Faenor Y Ferwig Ynyslas Ysbyty Ystwyth Ystrad Aeron Ystrad Meurig Ystumtuen Universities and colleges Aberystwyth University University of Wales, Trinity Saint David Coleg Ceredigion Rivers Aeron Arth Brenig Clarach Dulas Leri Llyfnant Mynach Rheidol Teifi Wyre Ystwyth Castles Aberdyfi Aberystwyth Cardigan Castell Gwallter Dinerth Lampeter Castle Islands Ynys Aberteifi (Cardigan Island) Ynys Lochtyn