Lampeter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 52°07′13″N 4°04′56″W / 52.1202°N 4.0821°W
| Lampeter | |
| Welsh: Llanbedr Pont Steffan | |
 |
|
  Lampeter
Lampeter shown within Wales |
|
| Population | 1,989 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Principal area | Ceredigion |
| Ceremonial county | Dyfed |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LAMPETER |
| Postcode district | SA48 |
| Dialling code | 01570 |
| 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 | |
Lampeter within Ceredigion UA
Lampeter (Welsh: Llanbedr Pont Steffan, or more informally, Llambed) is a town in Ceredigion, South West Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Teifi and the Afon Dulas.
Contents |
[edit] Demographics
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 both 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.
[edit] University
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 was until 2008 a constituent 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.
The university's rugby team was Wales' first, having been formed in 1850 by Rowland Williams after he brought the game from Cambridge.
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 Felin-fach at Felinfach), a museum and a number of locally-owned shops rather than national chain stores.
Although Lampeter is in the heart of rural Ceredigion it has a reasonable bus service to the larger towns of Carmarthen and Aberystwyth. The local bus services are a lifeline to many people of the town, especially students of the town's university.
[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. Lampeter's War Memorial was unveiled in September 1921. It was sculpted by Sir William Goscombe John.
[edit] Castle
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.
[edit] Culture
Lampeter hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1984.
It was at this Eisteddfod that the farmers union pledged its support to the striking miners of the '84-'85 strike and thus for the first time ever brought the agricultural and industrial sides of Wales together as one. Because of this the Lampeter Eisteddfod is considered to have been one of the most important in recent Welsh history.[citation needed]
[edit] Transport
Transport in Lampeter was greatly improved with the opening of the railway in 1866 which linked the town to both Carmarthen and Aberystwyth, as well as the seaside resort of Aberaeron. After the nationalisation of the railways, the passenger service to Aberaeron ceased. Passenger trains on the main line to Carmarthen and Aberystwyth continued until January 1965, when they ceased due to flooding, never to resume. The line was eventually lifted in 1975. However, the section of the old line between Bronwydd Arms and Danycoed Halt still exists and is used by a steam society and operates a regular timetable during summer months. Local residents have been campaigning for the return of the railway to Lampeter.
Regular bus services operate through the town, connecting Lampeter to the larger towns of Aberystwyth, Carmarthen and Swansea.
[edit] Twinned towns
Lampeter is twinned with:
[edit] External links
- Town website
- Tourist information
- Aerial photograph of Lampeter
- Photos of Lampeter and the surrounding area
