RNLI Lifeboat Station
Transcript: Hello and welcome to this Audiowalk where we’ll explore the town of Aberystwyth.You should be stood outside the RNLI lifeboat station which sits at the far end of Aberystwyth’s promenade.Lifeboats from this station launch into the river that runs behind the station. Walk over to the barriers and look down at the river behind.The name Aberystwyth means ‘Mouth of the River Ystwyth’. So, you might expect that this river, which runs through the town, is the River Ystwyth or Afon Ystwyth in Welsh.But actually, this is the River Rheidol, or Afon Rheidol, because the town has moved from its original location.Look to your right, down the River Rheidol to the estuary where it joins the sea. Can you see another smaller river joining the estuary under a bridge from the opposite direction? That is the River Ystwyth.Just over a mile upstream of the River Ystwyth is where the original settlement of Aberystwyth was established in the 12th century. The original settlement was built around a motte and bailey castle called Tan-y-Castell or Old Aberystwyth.But even this wasn’t the first settlement in the area. Look to the nearby hills and you’ll notice one of them has a tall tower on top. That is Pen Dinas, the site of a hillfort that dates back to around 300BC.The tower on top is called the Wellington Monument. It’s an 18-metre tall stone column dedicated to the Duke of Wellington. The tower should have been topped with a statue of the duke on horseback, although it was never finished due to a lack of funds from the council.Now, let me tell you what to expect on this audiowalk. During the tour, I’ll provide clear instructions to help you navigate and the audio will automatically play as you approach each stop. You can also use the onscreen map to find your way around and to select audio tracks. But the tour works best when you visit each stop in the order I recommend.From here, we’re going to walk down the promenade, with the sea on your left, in the direction of the castle ruins at the far end.
South Beach
Transcript: On your left, you are walking past South Beach, one of the two main beaches in Aberystwyth. The other being North Beach.Both are now pebble beaches, but hundreds of years ago, they would have been stretches of golden sand.Over time, the wind and waves have pushed sand further up the coastline to other beaches such as Clarach, Borth and Barmouth. But even these beaches are beginning to lose sand as it continues being pushed northwards.
Aberystwyth Harbour
Transcript: Cross over to the right side of the road where you’ll see Aberystwyth Marina which used to be a busy harbour.It started out as a small fishing harbour, with local fishermen pursuing herring, cod, whiting, pollack and ray. But later, access was improved to allow larger ships to dock here and by the 19th century, the harbour was exporting materials such as lead and zinc ore which were mined in north Ceredigion.The port wasn’t just for goods. By the middle of the century, ships were even taking passengers from Aberystwyth to North America.The town also had a reputable shipbuilding industry. It’s been reported that as many as 242 vessels were built here.You might notice some odd-looking seats next to the harbour. These were designed to celebrate the links between Aberystwyth Harbour and the heritage of the metal mining industry of north Ceredigion.A Mosaic on the floor next to these seats depicts some important vessels in Aberysywth’s maritime history.Starting from the top left and working clockwise we have the Edith Eleanor 1885, the last wooden sailing vessel to be built in Aberystwyth. The Countess of Lisburne 1886, a steam ship owned by The Aberystwyth and Aberdovey Steam Packet Company. It was a regular feature of the harbour in the late 19th century with regular runs to Liverpool and Bristol.The Volunteer 1861 was an old coasting ketch built in Aberystwyth and finally, the Elisabeth Lloyd was a lifeboat at the station we saw before until 1906.The introduction of the railways saw the importance of Aberystwyth’s harbour diminish over time and it’s now a marina for leisure boats.Cross back to the promenade and continue walking until you reach the small blue hut on the left, aptly named The Hut.
The Hut
Directions: When you reach The Hut, cross the road and head into the castle ruins.
Aberystwyth Castle
Transcript: You are now looking at the remains of Aberystwyth Castle. Explore them for yourself while I give you some more information.As I mentioned earlier, the town has moved from its original location, so this was not the first castle at Aberystwyth, but it was certainly the greatest.The castle was built in 1277 when King Edward I conquered the area and ordered the construction of several new castles as part of his efforts to keep the Welsh under control.Unlike the old motte and bailey castle at Tan-y-Castell, this was much larger and made of stone quarried from Constitution Hill which we’ll walk up later.The castle had a diamond layout with two sets of walls making up the inner and outer baileys. It’s difficult to imagine the layout from looking at the ruins so I’m putting a picture of what the castle looked like on your screen.The most notable structure still standing, with the passageway through the middle, is the North West gate. This was part of the inner wall which housed the inner bailey.From what’s left, it’s hard to believe that it was once as mighty as Edward I’s other castles in North Wales. But its exposed position next to the sea, with wind and waves constantly pelting against its sides, caused the castle to decay rapidly from the outset. Just 50 years after construction finished it was already said to be in a poor state.Despite its impressive design. Aberystwyth castle was still the subject of conflict from Welsh revolters and was briefly captured by Owain Glyndwr in 1404 until a peace treaty was signed.In the 16th century, under King Charles I, the castle took on a different use and became a Royal Mint to produce shillings using silver from the nearby mines. However, this association with the crown marked the castles downfall as shortly after, during the English Civil War, it became a target of Oliver Cromwell’s anti-royalist forces who deliberatly destroyed the castle, leaving much of the stone to be scavenged by locals.In the very middle of the ruins, can you see a circle of stones that don’t look like part of the castle? These are Aberystwyth’s Gorsedd Stones, head over to them now.
Gorsedd Stones
Transcript:Gorsedd stones are a circle of standing stones constructed for the Gorsedd ceremonies during the National Eisteddfod of Wales.The National Eisteddfod is a large festival of competitions and performances that takes place in different locations across the country each year. It’s the largest of its kind in Europe and has been held in Aberystwyth 4 times since it began in 1861 and was last held here in 1992.The word Gorsedd is Welsh for throne, but in this instance, it refers to the society of Welsh-language poets, writers, musicians, and artists who are responsible for organising the elaborate ceremonies at the event.In the centre of the standing stones is a flat-topped Logan Stone, where the society’s leader, the Archdruid, would stand to conduct the Gorsedd ceremonies which recognise literary achievements among Welsh poets and writers.Once you are done looking at the castle ruins and the Gorsedd Stones, make your way towards the war memorial. This is the large monument with a winged figure on top.
War Memorial
Transcript: This war memorial was designed by Mario Rutelli, an acclaimed Italian sculptor, to remember those from Aberystwyth who died during the two world wars.The winged figure on top represents victory. At the foot of the column, facing out towards the sea, a figure emerging from tangled foliage represents Humanity rising from the chaos of war.Like many towns across Wales, men were recruited from Aberystwyth to serve in both world wars, many of whom died in battle. There are 189 names on the memorial here, but thousands of service personnel from the area were involved.Now return to the promenade and follow it around to the old college, the grand gothic building with towers you can see from here.
The Old College
Transcript: This enormous building with towers and circular turrets has been key to Aberystwyth’s prosperity in more recent times as a major educational town.Originally built as a hotel in 1872, this building became the very first university in Wales and is now known as the Old College. The building is still owned by Aberystwyth University, although most activities now take place at their Penglais Campus. Big plans are in place to reopen the building as a centre for learning, culture, and creativity with exhibitions, galleries, and more.Outside, you’ll see two statues. The first is of Edward Albert who was the Prince of Wales when he officially opened the new building of the Aberystwyth University Students' Union. He went on to become King Edward VIII, best known for having the shortest reign in modern history which lasted just 326 days until he abdicated to marry a twice-divorced American.The second statue is of Thomas Charles Edwards, the very first principal at the university who oversaw 26 students when it first opened.Today, Aberystwyth is still a leading university with over 8,000 students per year. Considering there are only 13,000 permanent residents in Aberystwyth, you can see why student culture is a huge part of life here and why such a small town has so many bars.One of the university’s most famous alumni is Prince Charles, now King Charles III. He undertook a 9-week Welsh language course in 1969 so that he could deliver his speech in Welsh when he became the Prince of Wales.Now, continue along the promenade until you reach the pier.
The Royal Pier
Transcript: On your left is the Royal Pier, a 272-metre-long Victorian-era pier which was the first of its kind in Wales. The pier was a huge success in the beginning, attracting 7,000 visitors on opening day alone.However, on several occasions, it was severely damaged by storms, with the 1938 storm wiping out half of the structure.After a spell of closure, the current pier was refurbished and has been open since the 1980s. Today, it contains a fish and chip shop, several bars, a snooker hall, a restaurant, and an amusement arcade centre.Keep walking along the promenade towards the bandstand, that’s the building with the white roof.
North Beach
Transcript: You are now walking along North Beach, the more popular of Aberystwyth’s two beaches.The 1860s saw new railway routes opened to Aberystwyth from Machynlleth and Caernarfon so it became a booming Victorian holiday destination. Working and middle-class families from Mid and South Wales flocked to the seaside town.As you walk down the promenade, you’ll see many grand buildings that were constructed as hotels during this boom. Although few have remained as hotels to this day.You’ll also notice a row of flagpoles along the promenade near North Beach. During the summer, Aberystwyth flies the flags of lesser-known countries and regions where minority languages are spoken, similar to Welsh in Wales which is spoken daily by just 15% of people.Other flags flown here include the flags of Scotland, Cornwall, Corsica, Brittany, and more. Look for the sign on the promenade that lists them all.Continue walking until you reach the bandstand.
Aberystwyth Bandstand
Transcript: The bandstand was first built in 1935 and has been a focal point for the community ever since. It hosts musical performances, dances and other events. As well as local artists, more-established acts such as Led Zeppelin have also played here.Like the pier, it has been subject to storm damage and has been rebuilt several times. The bandstand was originally roofless but the roof was added to protect the musicians and audience from the dramatic weather that comes with a coastal position.Now, we’re going to take a short detour through some of the streets behind the promenade. We’re heading down Terrace Road so you’ll need to retrace your steps a little and take the first left.
Terrace Road
Transcript: You are now walking down Terrace Road. Back when the town and its castle were first built by Edward I, Aberystwyth had walls all around it. Terrace Road would have been just outside the town walls which stretched from the adjacent Baker Street all the way back to the castle.Unlike other walled towns in Wales, there are no visible remains of the walls in Aberystwyth. Stories suggest that most of the stone was taken by locals over the years and incorporated into other buildings.Keep an eye out for the tourist information centre on your left and stop outside.
Ceredigion Museum
Transcript: The tourist information centre is a great resource if you want to find out more about things to do in Aberystwyth. But it’s the building next door, to the left, that’s most interesting.This Edwardian theatre called The Coliseum Theatre was built in 1904 and was an important entertainment venue in the town. At least 5,000 events were staged at the Coliseum Theatre between 1904 and 1932 when it was turned into a cinema. It hosted plays, films, eisteddfodau, political meetings and concerts.The theatre was built during the reign of King Edward VII and if you stand far back enough, you can see a statue of him at the very top of the building.Today, the theatre has been restored and contains the Ceredigion Museum, home to three floors of permanent and temporary exhibits about the county of Ceredigion, from the Neolithic period right up to the modern day.The museum is free to visit and I recommend you come back later to look around. Entry is via the tourist information centre.After passing the museum, take the next left down Portland Street.
Old Town Hall
Transcript: The building at the end of Portland Street, with four columns, used to be Aberysywth Town Hall and later became the headquarters for Aberystwyth Borough Council.However, the formation of the new county of Ceredigion in 1996 meant that Aberystwyth was no longer the local seat of government and the building was eventually turned into a public library.But this is not the library that Aberysywth is best known for. That’s the National Library of Wales which is the largest library in Wales with over 6.5 million books.We won’t cover it on this tour as it’s quite a walk from here, but you can go and take a look for yourself after the tour. The library holds the first book printed in Welsh as well as a copy of Old King Cole, one of the world’s smallest books measuring less than 1mm in height, that’s smaller than a grain of rice.To the left of the old town hall is Queen Square. Head to the house in the very corner of Queen Square with a plaque, it had two important residents.
Queen Square House
Transcript: The house in the corner is Queen Square House. This was once the home of Caradoc Evans, a famous Welsh story writer, novelist and playwright in the early 20th century. His most famous work was a series of short stories called My People which is said to have inspired some of Dylan Thomas’ work. Look for the plaque on the wall in memory of him.But, he wasn’t the only famous name living here. His wife, Marguerite Jervis, was notable in her own right. She wrote 149 books although mostly under pen names such as Oliver Sandys. Many of her works were best sellers and some were made into films.The two are buried in New Cross and even their gravestone fails to mention Marguerite’s name. But a movement looking to remember the women lost to history is campaigning for her own plaque on the house.Next, we’re going to head down Queen’s Road which is the road to the left of the library.
Queens Road
Directions: Continue down Queen’s Road
Alberts Place
Directions: Take the next left down Alberts place to return to the promenade and turn right when you reach the promenade.
The Glengower
Transcript: On your right, you should be approaching The Glengower, one of Aberystwyth’s finest seaside pubs.It occupies two former Victorian terrace houses that have been joined together. The house on the left was once the home to a man named Sir John Williams who bought it in 1908.He was a highly respected physician and counted Queen Mary among his patients. It’s even said that he delivered the birth of Edward VIII, whose statue we saw earlier outside the Old College.Sir John Williams is best known as the first president of the National Library of Wales. That’s Aberystwyth’s huge library that I mentioned earlier. He donated valuable books and manuscripts to the original collection and, in the absence of children, left his estate and personal book collection to the library upon his death.When you visit the library, you’ll be able to see many of these old books that he gave in kind.Now, keep walking to the end of the promenade and follow the path around to the right until you see the Cliff Railway station on the corner.
Cliff Railway
Transcript: The hill just behind the Cliff Railway is Constitution Hill, known locally as Consti. We’ll be finishing our tour at the top of the hill where you’ll be rewarded with stunning views looking across the town and Cardigan Bay.You can either take the railway to the top or walk up by taking the steps next to the station. While you make your way up, I’ll tell you a little more about the cliff railway.This Cliff Railway dates back to the 1890s when a company was set up to transform constitution hill into a theme park called Luna Park. Remember, before this, stone from the hill had been used to construct the castle and town walls so it contained several disused quarries.You’ll notice that the railway has two tracks. The carriages on each track are connected so that when one goes down the other comes up.The cliff railway is the second longest funicular railway in the British Isles. It was originally powered using water and gravity. Each carriage had a tank that could hold 4 tons of water. Using a pump, water would be poured into the carriage at the top and as it got heavier, gravity would pull it down the hill, and in the process, pull the other carriage up the hill.Luckily for us, technology advanced quickly and since 1976, it has operated using electricity instead of the water balance system, but it’s still fun to ride.I’ll join you again when you reach the summit.
Constitution Hill
Transcript: Well done, you’ve made it to the top of Consti! If you were stood here in Victorian times, you’d be stood in the middle of a theme park called Luna Park. Now, this was a Victorian-era theme park so there were no such thing as roller coasters. There was a restaurant, pavilion, bandstand, gardens, terraces, an open-air dance floor, a small scenic railway, and kiosks.The small tower with the pointed roof held one of the main attractions, the camera obscura.This was essentially a dark viewing gallery with a projection of the surrounding countryside on the wall from the external lens.At the time this would have been a marvel of innovation and its 14-inch lens made it one of the largest camera obscuras in the world.So, what happened to Luna Park? Well, being Wales, the idea of a tourist attraction at the top of a hill was ill-thought-through. After several summers of poor weather, visitor numbers dwindled and it became derelict.But during the 1980’s, the site was revived into what you see today. Although only a shadow of its former Luna Park glory, the hill is still a much-loved place among locals and tourists.That brings us to the end of today's tour. I look forward to joining you on another Audiowalk soon.
