History Timeline

Some selected key events in the history of Aberystwyth:

Iron Age

• Building of the fort on Pendinas.

6th Century

• A small monastery was founded at Llanbadarn.

1109

• An early castle is built near Tanybwlch, south of the Ystwyth, to strengthen the power of King Henry I in the area.

1277

• Construction of the current castle begins - it is not completed until 1289.
• The town is founded with the issuing of its charter.

1402

• Castle is besieged by supporters of Owain Glyndwr - and surrenders in 1404.

1408

• Castle recaptured.

1415

• Henry V used the castle to hold prisoners from Agincourt.

1637

• A Royal mint is established in the castle, and lasts until 1643.

1645

• As part of the Civil War the Parliamentarians lay siege to the castle.

1646

• After 5 months the castle is surrendered.

1649

• The order is given for the castle to be blown up - accounting for its current state!

1762

• Aberystwyth's first bank, the Ship Bank, is founded in Bridge Street.

1763

• A customs house is transferred to Aberystwyth, helping encourage growth of the port.

1798

• The first buildings appear outside the town walls, including the Baptist Chapel now in Baker Street.

1835

• Use of the castle remains for building within the town was finally banned to try and preserve what remains were still standing.

1838

• Permission given for the founding of a gas works.

1846

• The Town Hall is built in Queen's Road. (The current building is a reconstruction after a major fire in 1957).

1851

• There are now 1020 houses in Aberystwyth, compared with 350 in 1801.

1852

• Column on Pendinas built as a monument to the Duke of Wellington. It was originally intended to carry a statue of a man on horseback.

1856

• The first town clock is built at the top of Great Darkgate Street.

1864

• The railway arrives in town via Machynlleth and Borth, bringing a huge boost in tourism.
• Savin's Castle Hotel, later to be used to house the University College, is built.

1865

• The pier is completed.

1866

• Only a year old, the pier is wrecked by a storm.

1867

• The Carmarthen - Aberystwyth rail route is opened.

1872

• The University College of Wales is founded with the acquisition of the Castle Hotel building.

1873

• The Cambrian News starts publication locally.
• Early origins of the National Library of Wales in the founding of a committee to collect Welsh materials.

1881

• The last ship to be built in Aberystwyth is completed.

1890

• First use of electric lighting in town - in the University's Physics Department.

1892

• Present Trefechan Bridge constructed.

1896

• The rebuilt pier is opened, as is the brand new cliff railway.
• Ardwyn School, off Llanbadarn Road, is established as the town's county school - for boys only until 1898.

1901

• The new promenade from the pier southwards around the castle is started, to be finished in 1903.

1902

• The Vale of Rheidol railway is opened to Devil's Bridge.

1907

• National Library of Wales established by charter.

1916

• National Library of Wales first occupies buildings on Penglais Hill.
• The National Eisteddfod of Wales (Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru) is held in Aberystwyth for the first time.

1927

• First houses are built in Penparcau.

1933

• The striking art-deco King's Hall opens on the Promenade. It became known for all manner of entertainment from its live music gigs and dances to amusements and indoor dodgems.

1937

• Current National Library building completed.

1952

• Aberystwyth hosts the National Eisteddfod for the second time.

1955

• Opening of Dinas School, a secondary modern school, in Waunfawr.

1956

• The town clock is demolished.

1964

• Opening of the College of Librarianship Wales. It became the largest librarian-training institute in Europe.

1969

• Prince Charles spends the spring term studying at the University, prior to his investiture as Prince of Wales.

1970

• Aberystwyth Arts Centre, with its 900 seat Great Hall, opens on Penglais Campus.
• Welsh Agricultural College opened.

1972

• Completion of Aberystwyth Arts Centre with addition of Theatr-y-Werin (The People's Theatre) and the iconic 'Stanley knife' bell tower.

1973

• Ardwyn School becomes Penweddig, a dedicated all-Welsh secondary school.
• Extensive new buildings are added to Dinas School in Waunfawr, which then becomes Penglais Comprehensive, the town's English-language secondary school.

1986

• Pictures and written accounts of life in Aberystwyth recorded as part of a national project can be viewed at the BBC's Domesday Reloaded site.

1989

• Demolition of the King's Hall. The building had been deemed unsafe and run-down, but its destruction was unpopular.
• College of Librarianship Wales is merged into the University.

1991

• Direct Intercity trains between Aberystwyth and London run for the last time.

1992

• The National Eisteddfod is hosted in Aberystwyth for the third time.

1995

• New Eastern Approach Road, now known as Ffordd Parc-y-Llyn, opens.
• First retail developments completed at Parc-y-Llyn with opening of six stores including Safeway supermarket, Great Mills and MFI.
• Welsh Agricultural College merges with the University.

1996

• In May, a major extension to the National Libary of Wales is opened by the Queen. Protests by Welsh nationalists lead to her visit being cut short - something which has never happened elsewhere on the British mainland before or since.
• The Rheidol Retail Park and new bus station open on the site of Western Parade and the former railway goods yard.

1998

• A fire starting in the Seabank Hotel on Victoria Terrace destroys the hotel itself, the Clarendon Hotel and Plynlymon and Caerleon student halls. Dozens of students have to be rehoused.

2000

• Ysgol Penweddig, the town's Welsh-language secondary school moves to a new, purpose-built building in Llanbadarn.
• A new town clock is built to replace that demolished in 1956.

2007

• Opening of the Ystwyth Retail Park, with four new chain stores built on the site of the former livestock market.
• The University of Wales ceases to be a federal university and the University of Wales, Aberystwyth (UWA) becomes simply Aberystwyth University.

2008

• The Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research, based at Gogerddan near Penrhyncoch, merges with the University.

2009

• Ceredigion County Council relocates from a variety of town centre buildings to purpose-built offices at Parc-y-Llyn in September.
• Nextdoor, new Welsh Assembly Government offices are opened by the First Minister for Wales on October 15th.

2011

• Administrative shortcomings leave the entire county with no working traffic wardens from 31st May. During the year it takes to arrange replacements, Aberystwyth gains notoriety for chaotic parking and features in the national media several times.

2012

• A new town library and country archives are opened in the former town hall.

2013

• Bilingual detective drama Y Gwyll - Hinterland is filmed in and around Aberystwyth, before airing in Welsh in the autumn.
• A roof fire started during building work at the National Library of Wales destroys a small number of items but the main collections escape unharmed.

2014

• Huge storms cause evacuations of the seafront and significant damage to the Promenade, requiring a massive clean-up operation and the rebuilding of one of the Victorian shelters.

2015

• Glyndwr Road, a residential street, is demolished to allow construction of new shops off Park Avenue.

2016

• Construction of a modern new seafront bandstand completed.
• Town centre Post Office closes and relocates business to WH Smith.
• First phase of new Tesco superstore and car park development opens on Park Avenue.