History and design
Aberaeron was planned and built in 1805 by the Rev. Alban Thomas Jones. It is built around the estuary of the River Aeron, which has been enlarged to provide a small half-tide harbourfor recreational craft. The estuary is also crossed by a wooden pedestrian bridge.
In the late 1890s, a hand-powered cable car 'The Aeron Express' was built to ferry workers across the harbour when the bridge was demolished by floods. The structure was recreated in the late 1980s as a tourist attraction that ran until the end of summer 1994.
The architecture of Aberaeron is unusual in this part of rural Wales, being constructed around a principal square of elegant Regency style buildings grouped around the harbour. Some of the architecture was of sufficient interest to feature on British postage stamps
Location and features
Aberaeron is located between Cardigan and Aberystwyth on the A487, at a junction with theA482 leading south-east to the university town of Lampeter.
The shoreline consists of generally steep storm beaches of pebbles, although fine sand is visible at low tide levels. Aberaeron south beach was awarded the Blue Flag rural beach award in 2005[1].
The climate is mild and temperate, largely conditioned by the proximity of the relatively shallow sea. However, Aberaeron can suffer from occasional winter frosts when cold air descends the Aeron valley from the upland parts of Ceredigion.
The town is notable for the sale of honey and especially honey ice-cream and more recently honey mustard.
70% of Aberaeron's inhabitants are able to speak Welsh according to the 2001 census.
A life-sized statue of a Welsh cob stallion was donated to the town in 2005 by the Aberaeron Festival of Welsh Ponies and Cobs to denote the area as Welsh Cob country. It was created by sculptor David Mayer.
Dylan Thomas' links with Aberaeron, New Quay and Talsarn have been documented by local author David N Thomas[2]. The Dylan Thomas Trail runs through Ceredigion, passing through Aberaeron and ending in New Quay[3]
There is also an annual carnival which takes place every Bank Holiday Monday in August A pressesion starts on the Quay and ends up in the Alban Square.
Famous residents
- Sir Geraint Evans, the renowned opera singer had a home in Aberaeron for more than 30 years
- Ron Davies OBE, photographer
Image gallery
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