Cardigan is Welsh town located in Ceredigion. It lies on the arm of River Teifi where Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion counties meet. In 2007 the population was reports at around 4,000 but is it considered a major administrative center for West Wales with it college, hospital and modern center for the arts and has a cinema. The town is also home to a grand guildhall from the 19th Century as well as many great shopping opportunities. The town went through a major restoration project in 2006-2007 to bring it back to some of its renaissance glory. Many of the front of the shops in the town center were restored back to their original style. The town was also given a new civic area and landing stage on its quayside.
Cardigan was founded by a Norman, Roger de Montgomery, in 1093. The ruler of the Deheubarth kingdom, Rhysap Gruffydd, tried many times over the next century to take over the town from the Norman. He finally reached success in 1165 and he quickly rebuilt the castle with stone, completing the project in 1171. The Normans were able to regain control of Cardigan by the 13th Century. The Normans built up the defenses of the town by building a stone wall around the entire town. Cardigan castles was besieged by parliamentary forces during the English Civil War.
Cardigan has been a major Welsh port since the Early Middle Ages. During the Middle Ages it grew as a port and by Elizabethan times the port was the second largest in Wales. The shipbuilding industry as well as rope and sail manufacturing was started at the port during the 17th Century. By the 19th Century the port had over 300 ships with 200 of them being bile local at the towns five shipyards. The ships employed a total of over 1,000 men. The port was also a major export for Cilgerran slate but the port died off during the early part of the 20th Century due to the silting up of the river. There has been talk on and off over the years to dredge it up but it has never been done.
Dialling the UK from Abroad
To dial the telephone and fax numbers shown from outside the UK, dial your international access code (check with your telecoms provider if you do not know what to dial), then 44, then the rest of the number except the zero shown in brackets.
Guest House & Hotel Owners
If you run a hotel, guest house or bed & breakfast and would like to be included in 4Hotels.co.uk's Hotel & Guest House Directory, please e-mail info@4hotels.co.uk.
Other accommodation close to Cardigan:
