Everything about Cardigan Ceredigion totally explained
Cardigan (
Welsh:
Aberteifi) is a town in the county of
Ceredigion in west
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. The town's population was estimated at 4,000 inhabitants in 2007, though it's 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 town has recently (2006/2007) undergone a renaissance with 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.
History
The town was founded in
1093 by the
Norman Roger de Montgomery. In the following century
Rhys ap Gruffydd, the ruler of the kingdom of
Deheubarth, made a number of attempts to wrest the town from the Normans, finally succeeding in 1165. The castle was rebuilt in stone by Rhys ap Gruffydd 1171. In 1176 first National Eisteddfod of Wales was held in the town. By the mid- 13th century the town was in the hands of the Normans once again who enhanced the town defences by building a stone town wall.During the
English Civil War,
Cardigan Castle was attacked by the parliamentary forces.
Since the
Early Middle Ages Cardigan has been a port. Throughout the
Middle Ages it grew in importance until by Elizabethan times it was, after
Milford Haven, the most important port in Wales. A small shipbuilding industry and allied trades like rope and sail making were established in the port in the 17th century.
By the early
19th century over 300 sailing vessels giving employment to more than 1000 men were registered at the port and more than 200 ships were built in the five shipyards.
Cilgerran slate was exported from the port. The river silted up and the port died by the early part of the twentieth century. Plans to dredge it have come to nothing over the years.
In
1176 the 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, working separately did raise its profile.
Ceredigion County Council finally bought it in 2003.
Cardigan is predominantly a Welsh speaking community. At the last census more than 70% of the residents were recorded as been able to speak or understand spoken Welsh with 48% 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.
Shrine to Our Lady of Cardigan
Cardigan is also the site of Wales' premier Roman Catholic Shrine in Wales. In pre-Reformation times it was known for a statue of the
Virgin Mary, who held a candle whose flame never extinguished. It is known as the shrine to Our Lady of the Taper.
Miscellanous
Cardigan Island lies just 200 metres offshore near the town at Gwbert.
Cardigan railway station was closed under the
Beeching Axe in 1963.
See also
St. DogmaelsFurther Information
Get more info on 'Cardigan Ceredigion'.
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