Saturday 19 December 2009
aberystwyth
aberystwyth
The Cambrian Railway line from Machynlleth reached Aberystwyth in the 1860s, closely followed by rail links to Carmarthen, which resulted in the construction of the town's impressive station. The railway's arrival gave rise to something of a Victorian tourist boom and the town was once even billed as the "Biarritz of Wales". During this time a number of hotels and fine townhouses were built including the Queens Hotel. One of the largest of these hotels "The Castle Hotel" was never completed as a hotel but following bankruptcy was sold cheaply to the Welsh National University Committee, a group of people dedicated to the creation of a Welsh University. The University College of Wales (later to become Aberystwyth University) was founded in 1872 in this building.
The National Library of Wales one of the main research and deposit libraries in the UKAberystwyth was a contributory parliamentary borough until the Third Reform Act, which caused its representation to be merged into that of the county in 1885.
Modern history
The Vale of Rheidol Railway narrow-gauge line from Devil's Bridge was constructed between 1901 and 1902, intended to ship mineral cargo, primarily lead, from Devil's Bridge down to Aberystwyth for trans-shipment. By the time it was finished, lead mining was in a deep downturn and it therefore came to rely largely on the tourist industry. The railway opened for passengers in December 1902. It is still open for the summer season today.
On the night of Friday 14 January 1938 a storm with estimated wind speeds of up to 90 mph (140 km/h) struck the town. Most of the promenade was destroyed, along with 200 feet (61 m) of the pier. Many properties on the seafront were damaged, most severely on Victoria Terrace.
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg held their historic first protest on Trefechan Bridge in Aberystwyth, on 2 February 1963, and here also the first-ever independent Welsh Evangelical Church was established (see Evangelical Movement of Wales).
Merched y Wawr have their national headquarters in Aberystwyth.
Aberystwyth hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1865, 1916, 1952 and 1992.
On 1 March 2005 Aberystwyth was granted Fairtrade Town status.
In March 2009, mayor Sue Jones-Davies who had played the role of Judith Iscariot in the film Monty Python's Life of Brian organised a charity screening of the film with principal actors Terry Jones and Michael Palin attending. The town had earlier banned the film when it was released.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberystwyth
The Cambrian Railway line from Machynlleth reached Aberystwyth in the 1860s, closely followed by rail links to Carmarthen, which resulted in the construction of the town's impressive station. The railway's arrival gave rise to something of a Victorian tourist boom and the town was once even billed as the "Biarritz of Wales". During this time a number of hotels and fine townhouses were built including the Queens Hotel. One of the largest of these hotels "The Castle Hotel" was never completed as a hotel but following bankruptcy was sold cheaply to the Welsh National University Committee, a group of people dedicated to the creation of a Welsh University. The University College of Wales (later to become Aberystwyth University) was founded in 1872 in this building.
The National Library of Wales one of the main research and deposit libraries in the UKAberystwyth was a contributory parliamentary borough until the Third Reform Act, which caused its representation to be merged into that of the county in 1885.
Modern history
The Vale of Rheidol Railway narrow-gauge line from Devil's Bridge was constructed between 1901 and 1902, intended to ship mineral cargo, primarily lead, from Devil's Bridge down to Aberystwyth for trans-shipment. By the time it was finished, lead mining was in a deep downturn and it therefore came to rely largely on the tourist industry. The railway opened for passengers in December 1902. It is still open for the summer season today.
On the night of Friday 14 January 1938 a storm with estimated wind speeds of up to 90 mph (140 km/h) struck the town. Most of the promenade was destroyed, along with 200 feet (61 m) of the pier. Many properties on the seafront were damaged, most severely on Victoria Terrace.
Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg held their historic first protest on Trefechan Bridge in Aberystwyth, on 2 February 1963, and here also the first-ever independent Welsh Evangelical Church was established (see Evangelical Movement of Wales).
Merched y Wawr have their national headquarters in Aberystwyth.
Aberystwyth hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1865, 1916, 1952 and 1992.
On 1 March 2005 Aberystwyth was granted Fairtrade Town status.
In March 2009, mayor Sue Jones-Davies who had played the role of Judith Iscariot in the film Monty Python's Life of Brian organised a charity screening of the film with principal actors Terry Jones and Michael Palin attending. The town had earlier banned the film when it was released.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberystwyth
# posted by Nostalgic photos and prints @ 07:48 
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