Cardigan, Ceredigion

Cardigan
Welsh: Aberteifi
Cardigan High Street
Cardigan  Cardigan shown within Ceredigion
Population	4,203
OS grid reference	SN175465
Principal area	Ceredigion
Ceremonial county	Dyfed
Country	Wales
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CARDIGAN
Postcode district	SA43
Dialling code	01239
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

Cardigan (Welsh: Aberteifi) is a town in the county of Ceredigion in Mid Wales. It lies on the estuary of the River Teifi at the point where Ceredigion meets Pembrokeshire. It was the county town of the pre-1974 county of Cardiganshire. It is the second largest town in Ceredigion. The town's population was 4,203 inhabitants in 2001. It is a significant regional administrative centre for West Wales, harbouring a hospital, college, a modern arts centre (with two-screen cinema) and a currently under-used nineteenth century guildhall together with a theatre and good shopping facilities. Cardigan is twinned with Brioude, France. The current Mayor, 2011–2012, is Cllr. Catrin Miles.

In 2006 and 2008 the town undertook a co-ordinated programme of building works restoring many of the facades of the town centre shops in a sympathetic style. The quayside has been rebuilt with a new civic area and landing stage.

Etymology

Cardigan is an anglicization of the Welsh name Ceredigion meaning "Ceredig's land." The city's Welsh name Aberteifi means "Teifi estuary."

Whereas in English, "Cardigan" used to refer to both the town and the county, in Welsh, "Ceredigion" only refers to the county.

History

The town is strategically placed on the banks of the River Teifi. The castle was built by Robert Montgomery in 1093 after the Norman army had conquered Ceredigion. A walled settlement developed around the castle and after much unrest and violence over the years, the Norman invaders were defeated. The Lord Rhys instituted the very first eisteddfod in the more peaceful times of 1176. Competitors came from all over Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland to compete for chairs in music and poetry. In 1199 the town received its first charter and was an important trade centre. A weekly market was established in 1227 and continues to this day.

Until the 16th century, Cardigan was a small, walled town with some river traffic. By the passing of the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542, Wales was annexed to England. This brought political stability, piracy was suppressed and maritime trade increased. The herring fishery developed and by the beginning of the 18th century, there was a large merchant fleet. Exports included herring and salmon, slate, bark for tanning, corn and ale. Imports included oranges, manufactured goods, building materials and coal. Industries that developed included shipbuilding, brickworks, a foundry, ropemakers and sailmakers.

In the 18th and early 19th century, Cardigan was the most important seaport in South Wales. In 1815 it possessed 314 ships with a total tonnage of 12,554 tons. This was seven times as many vessels as Cardiff and three times as many as Swansea. It had a thriving shipbuilding industry, with over 200 vessels being built here and downstream in the village of Llandudoch (St Dogmaels).

Rural industries and craftsmen were an important part of life in a country town. Information recorded in Trade Directories show that in 1830, there were in Cardigan:
Thirteen boot makers, three bakers, one corn miller, four blacksmiths, seven carpenters, two coopers, six tailors, five dressmakers and milliners, two straw hat makers, two weavers, three curriers, three saddlers, two whitesmiths (tinsmiths), four glaziers, five maltsters, two printers, two tanners and one stonemason.

The Guildhall, built from 1858-1860, was erected on the site of the 1804 Grammar School, and that of a house and coach-house owned by Abraham Morgan, with open ground behind. The cost of building was £1,880/5/0d for the front buildings, and £2,174/15/0d for the markets.

The river silted up and larger vessels could no longer reach the port, which had largely become inactive by the early part of the 20th century. Plans for dredging have come to nothing over the years.

The Guildhall, built in a Gothic design, and opened in 1860

A goods train at Cardigan station in 1962

Cardigan Railway Station, the terminus of the Great Western Railway line from Whitland, opened on the 31st August, 1886. The line, built by the Whitland and Cardigan Railway (previously known as the Whitland and Taff Vale Railway, and later familiarly as the 'Cardi Bach') was built between 1869 and 1873, with the extension to Cardigan opening in 1886. The arrival of the railway to Cardigan saw a gradual decline of trade from the port, with goods now travelling on the railway. The line and station was subsequently closed under the Beeching Axe in 1963, the old goods shed marking the site of the former station.

Much of Cardigan's history from pre-Norman times to the present day is on display at the Heritage Centre, located in an 18th century warehouse at Teifi Wharf, and managed by Cardigan's historic society, Hanes Aberteifi.

Cardigan Castle

A view of Cardigan looking north across the River Teifi. The castle is on the right (2008)

In 1176 Cardigan Castle became the site of the first competitive Eisteddfod. Cardigan also hosted the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 1942 and 1976. The castle was for many years in private hands and as a result became run down and derelict. The town council itself showed little interest in saving it. However a group of volunteers, and the local Catholic Priest (Saemus Cunane), working separately did raise its profile. Ceredigion County Council finally bought it in 2003.

Geography

Cardigan Island lies just 200 metres offshore near the village of Gwbert. The village of Moylegrove is also nearby.

Welsh language

Cardigan is predominantly a Welsh language speaking community. At the last census more than 69% of the residents were recorded as being able to speak or understand spoken Welsh with 45% able to speak, read and write in the language. In 1176 and again 800 years later the National Eisteddfod was held in the town. In 2003 the community together with the Welsh Language Board set up a language action plan designed to provide opportunities for people of all ages to get together to speak Welsh. The county council, Twf, Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin, the Urdd, Cardigan town council, the local Young Farmers, Menter Aberteifi and the Board are working together in pursuit of its objectives.

Climate

As with the rest of the British Isles, Cardigan experiences a maritime climate with cool summers and mild winters. The nearest official Met Office weather station for which online records are available is at Aberporth, about 6 miles east north east.

Typically, less than 3 days of the year will reach 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) or above, the warmest of which should rise to 26.8 °C (80.2 °F) - The highest temperature recorded at Aberporth was 32.7 °C (90.9 °F), during July 2006. On average 18.3 nights will report air frost and the coldest night of the year should fall to −4.5 °C (23.9 °F). The lowest recorded temperature was −9.9 °C (14.2 °F), during January 1963

Rainfall averages around 870mm a year, with at least 1mm falling on 143.5 days.

Climate data for Aberporth 133m asl, 1971-2000, Extremes 1960- (Weather Station 6 Miles ENE of Cardigan)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	13.4 (56.1)	15.2 (59.4)	21.0 (69.8)	25.6 (78.1)	26.6 (79.9)	31.5 (88.7)	32.7 (90.9)	31.5 (88.7)	25.2 (77.4)	22.0 (71.6)	17.0 (62.6)	14.1 (57.4)	32.7 (90.9)
Average high °C (°F)	7.3 (45.1)	7.3 (45.1)	8.7 (47.7)	10.6 (51.1)	13.7 (56.7)	15.9 (60.6)	18.0 (64.4)	18.1 (64.6)	16.1 (61.0)	13.2 (55.8)	10.0 (50.0)	8.3 (46.9)	12.3 (54.1)
Average low °C (°F)	2.9 (37.2)	2.6 (36.7)	3.8 (38.8)	4.9 (40.8)	7.5 (45.5)	10.0 (50.0)	12.2 (54.0)	12.3 (54.1)	10.7 (51.3)	8.4 (47.1)	5.6 (42.1)	3.9 (39.0)	7.1 (44.8)
Record low °C (°F)	−9.9 (14.2)	−7.5 (18.5)	−6.6 (20.1)	−2 (28.4)	0.1 (32.2)	1.7 (35.1)	5.6 (42.1)	5.5 (41.9)	3.3 (37.9)	−0.9 (30.4)	−5 (23.0)	−6 (21.2)	−9.9 (14.2)
Precipitation mm (inches)	88.5 (3.484)	62.7 (2.469)	63.7 (2.508)	50.7 (1.996)	48.2 (1.898)	61.1 (2.406)	49.2 (1.937)	68.2 (2.685)	75.7 (2.98)	104.2 (4.102)	98.3 (3.87)	99.2 (3.906)	870.2 (34.26)
Sunshine hours	54.6	74.0	109.7	168.6	213.6	190.5	198.7	184.8	141.0	100.1	63.3	45.6	1,544.5
Source: Met Office

Radio and Television

Much of the town can receive the standard six multiplexes of DVB-T digital television from the transmitter at Preseli about 20 km to the south. For those areas of the town close to the river where Preseli is shadowed by hills, then the three main multiplexes can alternatively be received from the repeater at St.Dogmaels a kilometre or so to the west.

FM radio is provided from Preseli (for Classic FM and Real Radio), or from the mast at Penwaun (for Radio Ceredigion). BBC radio on FM is available from Blaenplwyf, though you'll need a decent outdoor aerial for this - the transmitter is 50 km away to the north over rolling hills.

DAB Digital Radio coverage comes from Preseli. There are no repeaters carrying DAB in the vicinity.

Shrine to Our Lady of Cardigan

Cardigan is also the site of Our Lady of Cardigan, a Roman Catholic shrine, also known as the shrine to Our Lady of the Taper. In pre-English Reformation times it was known for a statue of the Virgin Mary, who held a candle whose flame never extinguished.

See also

• Cardigan Bay
• Gwbert

External links

• Photographs of Cardigan
• Cardigan's Official site
• Old photographs of Cardigan port
• Aerial photograph of Cardigan
• 2001 Census. Neighbourhood Statistics: Cardigan
• Cardigan History: Cardigan Chamber of Commerce
• Everything Aberystwyth - Cardigan Guide Section
• BBC Cardigan - Aberteifi
• www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Cardigan and surrounding area
• Towyn Burrows and Gwbert
• Walks around Cardigan and Cardigan Bay

Preceding station	Historical railways			Following station
Cilgerran		Great Western Railway Whitland & Cardigan Railway		Terminus