Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth (from the Welsh Mouth of the Ystwyth) is a historic market town, administrative centre and seaport of Ceredigion, Wales.
It is situated near the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol, about midway down the length of Cardigan Bay. Aberystwyth was a contributory parliamentary borough until the Third Reform Act, which caused its representation was merged in that of the county in 1885. In modern times Aberystwyth has become a Welsh educational centre. The population is around 12,000, but is swelled by an additional 7000 students associated with the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. The world's first department in international politics was established in Aberystwyth in 1919.
Geography
The Cambrian Line railway links Aberystwyth with Shrewsbury, and the Vale of Rheidol Railway, which is operated by steam locomotives, can be taken to Devil's Bridge. Aberystwyth is a major tourist centre and a cultural link between the north and south of Wales. It has a pier and a fine sea-front which stretches from Constitution Hill at the north end of the Marine Terrace to the mouth of the harbour. Constitution Hill is scaled by the Aberystwyth Electric Cliff Railway giving access to fine views and other attractions at the top.
Although the town is relatively modern, it contains a number of historic buildings, including the remains of the castle and the "imposing but fantastic structure" of the old buildings of the University College of Wales near the Castle Hill. The new campus lies to the east of the town.
Much of the finest scenery in Mid Wales lies within easy reach of Aberystwyth including the wilderness of the Cambrian Mountains, whose valleys contain forests and meadows which have little changed in centuries. The town is generally regarded as the capital of Mid Wales, and several institutions have regional offices there. Perhaps the most important of the public bodies located in Aberystwyth is the National Library of Wales. The library also 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. Which maintains and curates the National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW), provides the public with information about the built heritage of Wales, available through COFLEIN the online interactive mapping and database for the NMRW.
Aberystwyth is twinned with Saint-Brieuc, France.
History
The history of Aberystwyth may be said to date from the building of a fortress on the present Castle Hill, in 1109. Edward I rebuilt Strongbow's castle in 1277, after its destruction by the Welsh. Between the years 1404 and 1408 Aberystwyth Castle was in the hands of Owain Glyndwr, 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 inland). It is thus styled in a charter granted by Henry VIII, but by Elizabeth I's time the town was invariably termed Aberystwyth in all documents. In 1647 the Parliamentarian troops razed the castle, so that its remains are now inconsiderable, though portions of three towers still exist.
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg held their historic first protest in Aberystwyth, back in 1963, and here also the first ever independant Welsh Evangelical Church was established (see Evangelical Movement of Wales).
Aberystwyth hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1865, 1916, 1952 and 1992.
On March 1, 2005, Aberystwyth was granted Fairtrade Town status.
External links
- The University of Wales, Aberystwyth
- The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
- Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, Aberystwyth in English and Welsh
- AberInfo - The Aberystwyth Guide
- Aberystwyth-online.co.uk :: Homepage :: Ceredigion Wales
- AberWiki, an independent Aberystwyth-centered wiki
- Aberystwyth Guide