In 1807, the Reverend Alban Thomas Jones Gwynne - Lord of the Manor of Aberaeron - obtained a private Act of Parliament which enabled him to build the harbour and thus found the town of Aberaeron. His son, Col Gwynne was responsible for the planned part of the town and used Edward Haycock as his architect.
Aberaeron's Bicentenary will be celebrated in 2007 and a number of events are planned to mark the historic occasion, particularly during July and August 2007.
The money raised from these events and from selling the products commissioned for the occasion will help fund the celebrations.
Celebrating Our Heritage Programme
20 July - 27 August - Tues-Sun (10am-4pm).
Aberaeron 2007 Exhibition. Peniel Chapel Vestry, Water Street. Entry, free of charge.
20 July - 27 August - Tues-Sun (10am-5pm).
Exhibition of Quilting, embroidery and canvas work by Aberaeron Women.
Aberaeron Masonic Hall. 100 years of the best local handwork including work by Deanne Hartwell-Jones. Entry free of charge.
Provisional Festival Programme
Saturday 28 July 2007
Boats in the Bay, Harbour and Cardigan Bay
Venetian Night
Fireworks, Harbour
Sunday 29 July 2007
Ecumenical Service, Square Field
Monday 30 July 2007
Unveiling the Plaques
Pig Roast, Square Field
Tuesday 31 July 2007
Garden Party, Monachty Mansion
Wednesday 1 August 2007
Stars on the Square with Catrin Finch, Square Field
Thursday 2 August 2007
Children's Party, Square Field
Friday 3 August 2007
Aberaeron Rocks, Square Field
Saturday 4 August 2007
Bicentenary Ball, Memorial Hall
Aberaeron Town Trail and Historic Plaques to be launched during festival week.
More about the Bicentenary Celebrations
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your comments
Garry Owen, Weston super Mare
My mother traced my father's family tree and discovered that my great-great-great grandmother Mary Evans was from Monachty. I understand the Gwynne family were the Lords of the manor so assume that Mary's family could have been in service. Mary married Edward Owens of Amlwch, a mariner and they settled in Llanelly. I've visited Amlwch a couple of times and it is a beautiful town; congratulations on the bicentennial celebrations.
Thu Aug 2 16:57:37 2007
Estelle Read, Aberdeenshire
Aberaeron is a town that is full or history,beautiful houses in beautiful colours.It has no arcades on the prom or shopping centres or concrete multistorey car parks,or anything that a big town has,and it is still a town that people want to go and visit wether it is for the day or for a holiday.It is as safe to walk the harbour and sea front at night as well as it is in the daytime.It is a town that has gracefully enveloped the new with the old.You can enjoy eating out in a nice restaurant or just enjoy sitting on the harbour eating a bag of fish and chips as long as you finish it off with the famous honey ice cream from on the quay,best eaten watching the boats bob up and down when the tides in. Why shouldn't a small town celebrate a milestone year with such gusto, with something for everyone,so many towns over look such occasions and you also find that there is no community spirit,which you will not find in aberaeron. I am proud to have way over a hundred years of family history in the town with many more to come. And as they show in "The Big Country" advert on television,showing aberaeron. What Is Stress?. because i have never felt any while in the town only a overwelming feeling of unwinding.
Fri Mar 30 09:42:24 2007
Estelle Read, Aberdeenshire
My mother's family (Davis) lived on lower Regent Street from when the houses where built and before that in and around the town.We now have a house on the square. I had many friends there and still do,though not many family left.We used to travel up from London every summer and celebrated my birthday till I was 18,now my nieces do the same with my parents.I will be back next year for my 40th.I have travelled all over the world and there is no where more perfect than aberaeron.I wish everyone in the town a happy bicentenary in 2007 and for many more to come.
Wed Mar 28 15:07:15 2007
Richard Jeffreys, Wigan
After many years away from your beautiful town,I returned and found it pretty much(with one or two exceptions) unspoilt from years of excessive tourism; somewhere I could bring My family,where they could sample the delights of My own childhood memories.
So it was for a few years..up until this year..It would appear that in this anniversary year, You have lost ALL sense of what is right in the prurient search of profit and therefore I shall not be back to visit this small(once quaint)village anytime soon, nor shall I recommend it to anybody else.
Fri Mar 9 15:04:04 2007
Mair Lloyd, Heritage Project Coordinator
Rev Alban Gwynne was actually Lord of the Manor of Llyswen, otherwise Aberayron.
Grateful if Lee and Richard Steele of NSW Australia could contact me on heritage@aberaeron.info.
Fri Feb 2 16:30:10 2007
Lee & Richard Steele, Bathurst NSW Australia
Great Great great granddaughter of Jenkin & Mary Morgan who left from Aberaeron for Australia in 1850 (Jenkin was the carpenter at Monachty). Coming over for the week of Festival - any information would be appreciated.
Thu Feb 1 09:39:27 2007
Henry Phythian-Adams of Leamington Spa
May I point out that the Rev.Alban Gwynne (my 3Xgreat grandfather) was Lord of the Manor of Aberaeron, not Mayor (that post did not exist there). His son, Col.Gwynne was responsible for the planned part of the town. He used Edward Haycock as his architect. John Nash died the year Gwynne was providing the Town Hall and was laying out Alban Square.
Mon Oct 9 13:13:56 2006
Are you involved with the planning for the bicentenary celebrations? Get in touch and let us know more about it!
