Cardigan ( ) 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.
The town's population was estimated at 4,000 inhabitants in
2007, though 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 is Mark Cole of the
Welsh Liberal Democrats.
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.[2] By the early
19th century over 300 sailing vessels giving employment to more
than 1,000 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.
Cardigan Castle
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.
Welsh Language
Cardigan is predominantly a
Welsh
language speaking community. At the last
census more than 70% of the residents were recorded
as being 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
English
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.
Miscellaneous
Cardigan Island lies just 200 metres
offshore near the town at Gwbert.
Cardigan
Railway Station was closed
under the
Beeching Axe in 1963.
The
village of Moylegrove
is nearby.
See also
External links
References
- 2001 Census. Neighbourhood Statistics: Cardigan
- List of closed
railway stations in Britain
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