Lampeter
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224652053
2008-07-09T20:39:03Z
Harumphy
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/* External links */ rm link to domain squatter
{{infobox UK place|
|country = Wales
|static_image= [[Image:llanbedr1451lg.jpg|300px|]]
|static_image_caption=
|welsh_name=Llanbedr Pont Steffan
|constituency_welsh_assembly=
|map_type=
|official_name= Lampeter
|unitary_wales= [[Ceredigion]]
|population= 1,989
|lieutenancy_wales= [[Dyfed]]
|constituency_westminster= [[Ceredigion (UK Parliament constituency)|Ceredigion]]
|post_town= LAMPETER
|postcode_district = SA48
|postcode_area= SA
|dial_code= 01570
|os_grid_reference= SN578478
}}
<div style="position: relative; float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em;" class="toccolours">[[Image:WalesCeredigion.png]]<div style="position: absolute; left: 87px; top: 145px">[[Image:Red Dot.svg]]</div><br /><span style="font-size: 90%">Lampeter within Ceredigion UA</span></div>
'''Lampeter''' ([[Welsh language|Welsh]]: ''Llanbedr Pont Steffan'', or more informally, ''Llambed'') is a [[town]] in [[Ceredigion]], [[Mid Wales]], lying at the [[confluence]] of the [[River Teifi]] and the [[Afon Dulas]].
In 1991 the [[population]] of the town was recorded as 1,989 people, of which 1,410 were [[Welsh language|Welsh]] speaking. Lampeter is therefore the smallest [[university town]] in both [[Wales]] and the [[United Kingdom]]. The [[university]], in a normal year, adds a further 1,000 people to the town's population, which gives the [[rural]] town a somewhat cosmopolitan feel.
The town is best known for the [[University of Wales, Lampeter]] (formerly St David's University College), originally founded in 1822 as a college for [[ordinand]]s and now a constituent part of the [[University of Wales]], primarily awarding degrees in the [[Liberal arts|liberal arts]]. Its central building, based on an [[Oxbridge]] [[Quadrangle (architecture)|quadrangle]] was completed in 1827, and was designed by [[Charles Robert Cockerell|C. R. Cockerell]]. Its construction is recorded as having cost £16,204 6s 7d.
It was also from Lampeter, in 1968, that [[Julian Cayo-Evans|William Julian Cayo-Evans]] first marched his [[paramilitary]] [[nationalist]] '[[Free Wales Army]]'.
Lampeter and its surroundings are home to a theatre ([[Theatr Felin-fach]] at [[Felinfach]]), a museum and a number of locally owned shops rather than national [[chain store]]s.
Although Lampeter is in the heart of rural Ceredigion it has a reasonable [[bus]] service to the larger towns of [[Carmarthen]] and [[Aberystwyth]]. The local bus services are a lifeline to many people of the town, especially students of the town's university.
==History==
Cardiganshire was one of the royal counties established by [[Edward I of England|Edward I]] after the defeat of [[Llywelyn the Last]] (''Llywelyn Ein Llyw Olaf'') at [[Cilmeri]] in [[1282]] — Lampeter fell under direct Royal Control. This however had little effect on the culture of the town, as the [[Welsh language]] and [[Culture of Wales|culture]] have continued to thrive. The first [[Borough]] [[Charter]] was granted in 1284 and successive charters allowed many markets and fairs to be held in the wide High Street until the 1930s. One of these fairs was the Dalis [[Horse fair]].
The earliest reference to Lampeter is believed to be 1187, when [[Owain Gwynedd]] destroyed the King's castle of ''Pont Steffan'' (Stephen's Bridge in [[English language|English]]). The remains of this [[castle]] later became the foundations for [[Charles Robert Cockerell|C. R. Cockerell]]'s college building, and still form part of the [[University of Wales, Lampeter|university campus]].
Lampeter gained a connection to the national rail network on the [[Carmarthen Aberystwyth Line]], which was originally part of an ill-fated scheme to link [[Manchester]] to the deepwater port at [[Milford Haven]]. However, financial pressures led the route to be diverted, and it remained a cross country route, with passenger services running until flooding abruptly, and permanently, shut the line in 1965.
Lampeter hosted the [[National Eisteddfod of Wales|National Eisteddfod]] in 1984.
At the heart of the town is the local co-op [[supermarket]] which was opened by the charismatic Henry Dartnall who was twice mayor of Lampeter.
== External links ==
*[http://www.lampeter.org/ Town website]
*[http://www.lampeterrfc.co.uk/ Lampeter Town RFC website]
*[http://tourism.ceredigion.gov.uk/saesneg/lampeter.htm Tourist information]
*{{gbmapping|SN577481}}
*[http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/item1/11325 Aerial photograph of Lampeter]
*[http://www.hwjones.co.uk/ H&W Jones a long established local firm of chartered accountants]
*[http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2756942 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Lampeter and surrounding area]
[[Category:Towns in Ceredigion]]
[[Category:University towns]]
[[Category:Market towns in Wales]]
[[cy:Llanbedr Pont Steffan]]
[[el:Λάμπετερ]]
[[no:Lampeter]]
[[pl:Lampeter]]