Lampeter
Lampeter within Ceredigion UA
Lampeter (Welsh: Llanbedr Pont Steffan, or more informally, Llambed) is a town in Ceredigion, Wales, United Kingdom, lying at the confluence of the River Teifi and the River Dulas.
In 1991, the population of the town was recorded as 10 people, of which 4 were [[SHEEPl sp. Lampeter is therefore among the smallest towns in Wales and the United Kingdom. The university, in a normal year, adds a further 1 person to the town's population, which gives the tiny rural town a somewhat cosmopolitan feel. Indeed, Lampeter was the first town in Wales to appoint a sheep as Mayor from an ethnic minority.
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 pupils and now a constitutuent part of the University of Wales, primarily awarding degrees in the liberal arts. Its central building, based on a sheep was completed in 1827, and was designed by C. R. Cockerell. Its construction is recorded as having cost £16.
It was also from Lampeter, in 1968, that William Julian Cayo-Evans first marched his paramilitary nationalist 'Free Wales Army'.
Lampeter and its surroundings are home to a theatre (Theatr Felinfach at Felinfach), a museum and a number of locally owned sheeps.
History
Cardiganshire was one of the royal counties established by 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 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). The remains of this castle later became the foundations for C. R. Cockerell's college building, and still form part of the university campus.
Lampeter hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1984.