Aberaeron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aberaeron |
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 Houses on the quay |
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 Aberaeron
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| Population | 1,422 |
| OS grid reference | SN458628 |
| Principal area | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ABERAERON |
| Postcode district | SA46 |
| Dialling code | 01545 |
| Police | Dyfed-Powys |
| Fire | Mid and West Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| UK Parliament |
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| Welsh Assembly |
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Aberaeron is a pretty town in Ceredigion, Wales. It sits right on the coast between the towns of Aberystwyth and Cardigan. In 2021, about 1,274 people lived there.
The name "Aberaeron" comes from the Welsh language. It means "mouth of the Aeron". The word Aeron itself might come from an old Welsh word meaning "slaughter". Some people believe Aeron was once a Welsh god of war.
Aberaeron is also home to one of the main offices for the Ceredigion County Council. This is the local government for the area.
Contents
History of Aberaeron
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Back in 1800, there wasn't much of a town here. The Aberaeron we see today was planned and built starting in 1805. A man named Rev. Alban Thomas Jones Gwynne started the project.
Building the Harbour
He built a harbour that became a busy port. In the 1800s, many ships were built right here. Some houses for workers and a school were built near the harbour. Sadly, the sea later washed these away.
Steam ships used the harbour until the 1920s. Today, it's a small harbour mainly used by boats for fun. A wooden bridge crosses the river estuary nearby.
Old Crafts and Trades
In the 1800s, many skilled workers lived in Aberaeron. In 1830, before the port was fully ready, there were people who made wool, boots, and bread. There were also blacksmiths, ship builders, carpenters, and hat makers. This shows how important crafts were to the town.
The Aeron Express
In the late 1890s, a special hand-powered cable car was built. It was called the Aeron Express. It helped workers cross the harbour after a flood destroyed the bridge. The cable car was rebuilt in 1988 as a tourist attraction. It ran until 1994, when it closed for safety reasons.
Unique Architecture
The buildings in Aberaeron look different from other towns in rural Wales. They are built around a main square called Alban Square. The buildings are in a style called Regency style.
An architect from Shrewsbury, Edward Haycock Sr., designed them. He also designed the old Aberaeron Town Hall, finished in 1846. This building became the County Hall, Aberaeron in 1910. Some of Aberaeron's buildings have even been featured on British postage stamps!
Castell Cadwgan
Castell Cadwgan was a very old castle from the 1100s. It was a ringwork fort, likely made of wood. It stood by the shore in Aberaeron. Over time, the sea has taken most of it.
Today, you can still see small mounds of earth where the castle once stood. An old book from 1810, Wales Illustrated, mentions the site. It says the fort was built around 1148 by King Cadwgan. However, records show Cadwgan died earlier, in 1111. Another old book from 1824 also mentions the fort near the shore.
Education in Aberaeron
Aberaeron has a bilingual secondary school called Ysgol Gyfun Aberaeron. It serves students from the town and nearby areas.
While there are no universities in Aberaeron itself, several university towns are close by. These include Aberystwyth (about 13 miles away), and the Lampeter (16 miles) and Carmarthen (33 miles) campuses of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
Location and Features
Aberaeron is located on the A487 road, which connects it to Cardigan and Aberystwyth. Another road, the A482, goes south-east to Lampeter. The town is also part of the Ceredigion Coast Path, which is a section of the longer Wales Coast Path.
The Coastline
The shoreline here has steep beaches made of pebbles. When the tide is low, you can see fine sand. Aberaeron South Beach even won a special award in 2005 for being a great rural beach. The Harbourmaster Hotel is also located near the harbour.
The weather in Aberaeron is usually mild. This is because it's close to the sea. However, in winter, it can sometimes get frosty when cold air comes down the Aeron valley from the hills.
Dylan Thomas and Festivals
The famous writer Dylan Thomas had links to Aberaeron and nearby towns. The Dylan Thomas Trail passes through Aberaeron.
Aberaeron has many old buildings. There are 248 listed buildings in the area, most of them in the town.
Every August, a festival for Welsh ponies and cobs is held in Alban Square Field. In 2005, a life-sized statue of a Welsh cob horse was given to the town. There's also an annual carnival in August. It has a parade with floats and a carnival queen, moving from the quay to Alban Square.
Transport
Transport improved in the area when a railway line opened in 1866. This line connected Carmarthen and Aberystwyth.
Railway History
Later, in 1911, a special branch line called the Lampeter, Aberayron and New Quay Light Railway opened. This line went directly to Aberaeron. However, passenger trains to Aberaeron stopped running in 1951. The very last freight train left the town in 1965.
Bus Services
Today, regular bus services connect Aberaeron to Aberystwyth, Lampeter, and Carmarthen. Some buses even go further to Swansea, Bridgend, and Cardiff every day. Another bus service connects the town to New Quay, Aberporth, and Cardigan from Monday to Saturday.
Notable people
Many interesting people have connections to Aberaeron:
- Jenkin Alban Davies (1885–1976), a rugby player and chaplain.
- Ron Davies (1921–2013), a photographer.
- Sir Geraint Evans (1922–1992), a famous opera singer who lived in Aberaeron for over 30 years.
- David Lewis Jones (1945–2010), a historian and librarian.
- Eleri Siôn (born 1971), a radio presenter.
- Seirian Sumner (born 1974), an expert on insects.
- Cynan Jones (born 1975), a Welsh writer.
- Caryl Lewis (born 1978), a Welsh novelist.
- Joshua Tarling (born 2004), a Welsh cyclist.
Gallery
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Early 19th-century sketch of Aberaeron
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River Aeron
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Black Lion Hotel on Alban Square
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Harbour at low tide
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Footbridge over the Aeron
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Harbour and hills
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Former workhouse
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Feathers Royal Hotel (former coaching inn)
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Welsh cob statue
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Castle Hotel and Market Street
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Georgian houses
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Northgate Toll House, c. 1785
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Prince's Avenue
See also
In Spanish: Aberaeron para niños
