Ceredigion
Ceredigion | |
---|---|
Ranked 3rd | |
• Speakers | 45.3%[1] |
Geocode | 00NQ (ONS) W06000008 (GSS) |
ISO 3166 code | GB-CGN |
Website | www |
Ceredigion ([kɛrɛˈdɪɡjɔn] ⓘ), historically Cardiganshire (/ˈkɑːrdɪɡənˌʃɪər, -ʃər/), is a county in the west of Wales. It borders Gwynedd across the Dyfi estuary to the north, Powys to the east, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire to the south, and the Irish Sea to the west. Aberystwyth is the largest settlement and, together with Aberaeron, is an administrative centre of Ceredigion County Council.
The county is the second most sparsely populated in Wales, with an area of 688 square miles (1,780 km2) and a population of 71,500; the latter is a decline of 4,492 since the 2011 census. After Aberystwyth (15,935), the largest towns are Cardigan (4,184) and Lampeter (2,970). Ceredigion is considered a centre of Welsh culture and 45.3% of the population could speak the Welsh language at the 2021 census.
To the west, Ceredigion has 50 miles (80 km) of coastline on Cardigan Bay, which is traversed by the Ceredigion Coast Path. Its hinterland is hilly and rises to the Cambrian Mountains in the east, where the highest point is Plynlimon at 752 metres (2,467 ft). The mountains are the source of the county's main rivers: the Rheidol, Ystwyth, Aeron and Teifi; the last of these is Ceredigion's boundary with Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire for most of its length.
Ceredigion is named after a minor kingdom which occupied approximately the area of the county in the fifth century AD. The contemporary county has the same borders as Cardiganshire, which was established in 1282 by the English king Edward I after his conquest of Wales. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, the county was more industrialised than it is today; lead, silver and zinc were mined in the area, and Cardigan was the largest port in South Wales. The economy later became highly dependent on dairy farming, but is diversifying into areas such as tourism as farming becomes less profitable. The county is home to the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth University, and the Lampeter campus of University of Wales Trinity St David.
History
Ceredigion has been inhabited since prehistoric times. A total of 170 hill forts and enclosures have been identified across the county and there are many standing stones dating back to the
Many pilgrims passed through Cardiganshire on their way to St Davids. Some came by sea and made use of the churches at Mwnt and Penbryn, while others came by land seeking hospitality at such places as Strata Florida Abbey. Both the abbey and Llanbadarn Fawr were important monastic sites of scholarship and education. Place names including ysbyty denote their association with pilgrims.[4]
In 1282,
Much later, Cardiganshire was designated as a vice-county.
Pen-y-wenallt was home to 17th century theologian and author, Theophilus Evans.[7] In the 18th century there was an evangelical revival of Christianity, and nonconformism became established in the county as charismatic preachers like Daniel Rowland of Llangeitho attracted large congregations. Every community built its own chapel or meeting house, and Cardiganshire became one of the centres of Methodism in Wales; the Aeron Valley was at the centre of the revival.[8]
Cardigan was one of the major ports of southern Wales until its harbour silted in the mid-19th century. The Industrial Revolution passed by, not much affecting the area. In the uplands, wheeled vehicles were rare in the 18th century, and horses and sleds were still being used for transport. On the coast, herrings and corn were traded across the Irish Sea. In the 19th century, many of the rural poor emigrated to the New World from Cardigan, between five and six thousand leaving the town between 1790 and 1860. Aberystwyth became the main centre for the export of lead and Aberaeron and Newquay did brisk coastal trade. The building of the railway from Shrewsbury in the 1860s encouraged visitors, and hotels sprang up in the town to accommodate them.[9]
This area of the county of
Geography
Ceredigion is a coastal county, bordered by Cardigan Bay to the west, Gwynedd to the north, Powys to the east, Carmarthenshire to the south and Pembrokeshire to the south-west. Its area is 1,795 square kilometres (693 sq mi).[15] In 2010 the population was 76,938, making it the second most sparsely populated county in Wales.[15]
The main settlements are Aberaeron, Aberporth, Aberystwyth, Borth, Cardigan, Lampeter, Llanarth, Llanddewi Brefi, Llandysul, Llanilar, Llanrhystud, Llanon, New Quay, and Tregaron. The largest of these are Aberystwyth and Cardigan.[16]
The
Ceredigion's 50 miles (80 km) of coastline has sandy beaches. In 2011 Ceredigion's beaches were awarded five
Between 1991 and 2003 Ceredigion had the largest population growth of any county in Wales, with a 19.5% increase.
The county has no large commercial areas. The nearest substantial settlements are located at least 1 hour 45 minutes drive away. Approximate road distances from Ceredigion's largest town, Aberystwyth, are: Swansea, 75 miles (121 km) to the south; Shrewsbury, 76 miles (122 km) to the east, in the English county of Shropshire; and Wrexham, 82 miles (132 km) to the northeast. The capital, Cardiff, is over 100 miles (160 km) from most parts of the county. Although Ceredigion and Gwynedd share a boundary, it is not possible to travel directly between the two by land as all road and rail links avoid the Dyfi estuary and pass through Dyfi Junction or Machynlleth in Powys.[16]
Government
Between 1889 and 1974, the county was governed by
A
Economy
Farming has traditionally been the basis of Cardiganshire's economy, with dairying and stock-rearing being the main occupations. Before the first railway was built in 1866, the stock used to be herded over the mountains to England, where Rugby, Northampton and London were important destinations. At one time there was a sizeable mining industry in Cardiganshire, but the reserves of lead, silver and zinc became unprofitable to mine by the early 20th century. Shipping was also important in the county, with coal and lime being imported in coastal vessels, and mineral ores and oak bark for tanning being exported. Shipbuilding was an important industry: most of Wales' sailing vessels were built in Cardiganshire.[15]
Cardiganshire had a substantial population in the early modern period, but this declined during the 19th century as wider social and economic developments affected all aspects of Cardiganshire life. Traditional industries were in decline, agriculture was in decline and it was becoming increasingly difficult for a still-rising population to earn a living within their native parishes and communities. By the first half of the 20th century, falling livestock prices and greater international competition made farming unprofitable. Many residents of Cardiganshire moved to other parts of South Wales, where there were better employment opportunities, and many more emigrated to the United States, Canada, Patagonia and Australia.
By the second half of the 20th century, the population was increasing again. More retired people were arriving to make their home in the tranquil surroundings, and after the Beacham Commission in the 1960s, the British government realised that the rural way of life in parts of Wales was in crisis, and started to react. Through government initiatives and local actions, opportunities in tourism, rural crafts, specialist food shops, farmers' markets and added-value food products began to emerge.[15] However, in 2011, at 3.1%, Ceredigion still had one of the highest proportions of its population working in agriculture, forestry and fishing, close behind such other places as Orkney and Shetland.[28] Exposed, marginal land is also used for wind farms: Cefn Croes Wind Farm near Devil's Bridge has 39 turbines and a nominal capacity of 58.5 MW.[29]
Farm incomes have been in decline over the years; and, as well as being a
Leisure
The
The county is rich in archaeological remains such as forts, earthworks and standing stones. Historic sites that can be accessed include Aberystwyth Castle[31] and Cardigan Castle,[35] as well as Strata Florida Abbey.[36] Other visitor attractions include the Cwmystwyth Mines, Llywernog Mine, Devil's Bridge,[31] the Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest Visitor Centre,[31][37] Elvis Rock, Cors Caron (Tregaron bog), the Vale of Rheidol Railway,[31] and the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway.[31]
Leisure activities available in the county include beach activities, rambling, cycling, sea fishing, canoeing, sailing and horse riding. Many of the towns and villages along the coast have small harbours and facilities for sailing, dolphin watching and other maritime activities. The Ceredigion Coast Path from Cardigan to Ynyslas runs about 60 miles (97 km) along the coast with spectacular scenery. It can conveniently be divided into seven sections.[38] When Dylan Thomas lived in New Quay and Talsarn, he frequented Aberaeron and Lampeter. The Dylan Thomas Trail links places associated with him.[39]
The Welsh Government's Visit Wales website describes the River Teifi as "one of the major game rivers of Wales,"[40] although there has been concern that salmon stocks are in decline.[41] There are a series of rapids near Llandysul where canoeing, kayaking and white water rafting take place.[42]
The county's main football team,
Transport
The
There are no motorways in Ceredigion; the nearest is the western end of the
There are local bus services between the main centres of population,[47] with long distance services between Aberystwyth and Cardiff, via Aberaeron and Lampeter. A bus service known as Bwcabus operates in the south of the county, offering customised transport for rural dwellers.[48] TrawsCymru T1 service runs between Aberystwyth and Carmarthen, with some journeys through Aberaeron and Lampeter.
Aberporth Airport, located south-east of Aberporth, is being developed as West Wales Airport for domestic flights within Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom. The airport is also developing as a centre for the deployment of civil and military unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as 'drones'. The airport underwent major improvements in 2008, which extended the length of the runway from 945 to 1,257 m (3,100 to 4,124 ft).[47][49]
Library
Ceredigion Library has a collection of oral history interviews with people from Ceredigion during the 1960s and 1970s. The recordings were archived, digitised, catalogued and made available during the Unlocking Our Sound Heritage project at the National Library of Wales.[50]
See also
- Seisyllwg
- List of Lord Lieutenants of Cardiganshire
- List of Custodes Rotulorum of Cardiganshire
- List of High Sheriffs of Cardiganshire
- List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Ceredigion
- List of schools in Ceredigion
- List of MPs for the Ceredigion (formerly Cardiganshire) constituency
- Centre points of the United Kingdom
- Cuisine of Ceredigion
Notes
- ^ "How life has changed in Ceredigion: Census 2021".
- ^ "Discover Ceredigion: Hillforts and Heroes". Ceredigion County Council. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ Davies, John, A History of Wales
- ^ "Discover Ceredigion: Pilgrims and Princes". Ceredigion County Council. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ Margaret Escott (2009). "Cardiganshire; The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1820-1832, ed. D.R. Fisher". historyofparliamentonline.org. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- ^ Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (1836). The Penny Cyclopaedia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. Charles Knight. p. 287. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- ^ Roberts, Enid Pierce (1959). "EVANS, THEOPHILUS (1693 - 1767), cleric, historian, and man of letters". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ "Discover Ceredigion: Peace and Religion". Ceredigion County Council. Archived from the original on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ISBN 0-300-10179-1.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8063-1614-7.
- ^ a b "County Council". Cyngor Sir Ceredigion County Council. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ "How life has changed in Ceredigion: Census 2021". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- ^ "Welsh speakers by local authority, gender and detailed age groups, 2011 census". statswales.gov.wales. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
- ^ "Welsh speakers by local authority and broader age groups, 2001 and 2011 census". statswales.gov.wales. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-317-12709-3.
- ^ ISBN 0-540-05831-9.
- ^ "Ceredigion tourism - Beaches". Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ "Cardiganshire Coast & Country". Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ "Red Kite Feeding". Gigrin. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ^ "Census shows Welsh language rise Friday, 14 February, 2003 extracted 12-04-07". 14 February 2003. Retrieved 20 September 2014.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-84541-335-4.
- ISBN 978-0-19-968370-3.
- ^ "Hansard: Written Answers". UK Parliament. 2 April 1996. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ "The County of Ceredigion (Electoral Changes) Order 2002", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2002/3278, retrieved 2 October 2022
- ^ "New party reveals election targets". BBC News. 6 January 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ "Gains for Plaid in Ceredigion". BBC News. 11 June 2004. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
- ^ Morgan. "Cardiganshire Politics": 314–18, 319–20.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ISBN 978-1-4473-1136-2.
- ^ "Cefn Croes, United-Kingdom". Wind Energy Market Intelligence. The Wind Power. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-4441-6980-5.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Things to do in Ceredigion". TripAdvisor. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ "Internal Fire: Museum of Power". Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ "The Hafod Estate". Natural Resource Wales. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ "History - Aberystwyth Arts Centre". www.aberystwythartscentre.co.uk.
- ^ "Cardigan Castle". Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ "Strata Florida Project". University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ "Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest Visitor Centre". Visit Mid Wales. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ^ "Ceredigion Coast Path". Ceredigion County Council. Archived from the original on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ The Dylan Thomas Trail by D. N. Thomas, Y Lolfa 2002
- ^ "Game Fishing on the River Teifi, Carmarthenshire". Visit Wales. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ "River Teifi salmon shortage reaching 'crisis point'". BBC News. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- ^ "Llandysul Paddlers". Retrieved 16 April 2016.
- ^ "Club honours". Aberystwyth Town Football Club. Archived from the original on 14 April 2016. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
- ^ "Cardigan Town Football Club: History". Cardigan Town Football Club. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
- ISBN 978-1-4456-4299-4.
- ISBN 978-0-7495-7743-8.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-4093-5902-9.
- ^ "Bwcabus". Bwcabus. 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ^ "West Wales Airport". Retrieved 11 April 2016.
- ^ "Recent collections - National Library of Wales". www.library.wales. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
References
- Baynes, T. S., ed. (1878), Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 5 (9th ed.), New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, pp. 94–5 ,
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911), , Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 5 (11th ed.), Cambridge University Press, pp. 319–21
- Morgan, Kenneth O. (1967). "Cardiganshire Politics: The Liberal Ascendancy 1885–1923". Ceredigion. 5 (4): 311–346.