By Noel Davies from Lampeter:
"Lampeter got its first Royal Charter from Edward I in 1284, giving the town the right to hold fairs and markets. The next Royal Charter was granted in 1884 by George IV. That gave Lampeter the right to be known as a borough rather than a town. We then had our first Mayor, Aldermen and Council.
Up until 1820, there wasn't really much to Lampeter at all. There was only one street - High Street and the bottom end of Bridge Road. Then in 1820, they started building the St David's College which opened on 1 March 1827.
The town grew around the college. Lampeter is the oldest degree-giving institution in Wales and is second only to Oxford and Cambridge.
When it first opened, Lampeter was an independent college and 90% of the students at the time went into the Church. The college became part of the University of Wales in the early 1960s although if it chose to go independent, it still has the right to award BA Lampeter degrees.
The links between 'Town & Gown' are very close. People often think that the symbols on the town's coat of arms represent St Stephen's Bridge and St Peter (hence the Welsh name Llanbedr Pont Steffan - The Church of St Peter and the Bridge of St Stephen). However, it's not St Peter but St David after the college. It is a vital component of the town's economy and prosperity.
With the opening of the college in the 1820s, Lampeter became a very busy town and had several large department stores. Even when I was born in 1933, the town still had five butcher shops (only one remains today), eight bakers, too many grocer shops to count and three large men's outfitters - Rhys Hughes, Walter Davies and Nun Davies.
People used to come here from far and wide. The railway arrived in the 1890s providing links to Carmarthen and Aberystwyth, and in 1911, the Lampeter to Aberaeron branch opened. The trains brought in people as well as freight, including coal, fuel, machinery and other merchandise.
The passenger rail service closed in 1964 although the Carmarthen to Felinfach line was kept open until the 1970s because of the milk factory there. It was a big blow to the area when the railway closed.
There were fears in the 1950s that the university might have to close. The Principal at the time - the Rev. Lloyd Thomas - campaigned and lobbied to save the institution, raising a substantial amount of money. Cardiff University helped out but Aberystwyth didn't. Now, the University has around 2,000 students and a secure future.
Other important employers in this area are agriculture and local government. We used to have a large Dewhurst clothes factory employing many local people but that closed in 2002. We also had a major sawmill with almost 200 workers which closed in the late 1980s.
Lots of pubs have closed too. I can remember the days when every pub would have its own stables. Even in the late 1940s, those stables would be full as people came into town on horseback to do their business.
Times have changed but the town goes on."
By Noel Davies from Lampeter.
Old photos of Lampeter...Lampeter's history society...
your comments
Heather Ives, Surrey
My grandfather was born at Wempa Lodge in Llanwenog William Fox. His family worked in the gardens I think at Highmead Mansion in Llanybyther for the Evans family. He was part of a large family. Are there any of the Fox family left in the area? Grandad was born in 1849
Sun Jun 28 18:30:32 2009
Mike Bennett, Nolton Haven Pembs
I am researching a mill in Lampeter called Felin Uchaf in documents dated in the 1870s. Is this the same as Lampeter mill in all census from 1841 to 1901 ? I know there was a mill at Falcondsle called Tyhen Mill and a placed called Felin Fawr but no obvious miller there. There was a miller living on the Common in 1871, although no obvious mill there.
Wed Aug 27 12:53:27 2008
julie sluman
my releative was born in Tynffordd Llanwenog in 1868 to a farmer. Could anyone please help me locate this please as I am finding it quite difficult. Many thanks
Mon Aug 11 08:26:18 2008
Sarah Barnard, Kingston-upon-Thames
I am trying to trace my maternal grandfather's family. What hope have I with a name like William Lewis Jones! He came to London for work from mid Wales - I think the Lampeter area. I remember a relative a Miss Jennie Jones known as Jennie Cwm locally because (I think) she came from Cwn Farm. I visited her at 3 Rhydlandair, Llangybi, Lampeter. Welsh was her first language. She died in February 1996. Does anyone have any links?
Sun Jul 20 13:47:46 2008
Simon Fox London
After visting Lampeter I found out that my Father in Law Daniel "Tom" Jones is actualy buried in St Marys Church at Maestir and that they lived at Tyhen.Several generations are buried at this tiny church and the family worked on the Falondale Estate.
Thu Jul 10 10:15:47 2008
Simon Fox London
Daniel Thomas Jones(Tom Jones) my wife's father came from the area, he is buried in Felinfach and I am trying to get some background information. He has 4 children Peter, Colin, David and Shan, my wife, who were all born in Islington London. Does anybody know of him?
Thu Jun 19 16:23:07 2008
Margaret Griffiths
Does anyone have any information or a photo of Tom Lewis, he was town crier in Lampeter in early 1900,s, I was sent some information that appeared in the book The History of Lampeter. The book mentions he was a noteable person of Lampeter, and Max the cartoonist had done a drawings of him.
Mon May 19 09:09:38 2008
Jenny Featherstone, Aberdulais
I, apparently, have 'links' to Lampeter/Llanwnenn, through my maternal grandfather. He was a 'Jones' and comes from the 'Jones - Hughes' family of the 'old families' (Neaudd fach and Neaudd fawr, and Castell-du) (circa 1760-1930).I was told as a child, that there was a'Private Burial Ground' in the grounds of Neaudd fach/fawr, where a few members of the families were interred. Do you know, whether this still remains? You see, 'the old family' of Jones, were 'Unitarian' and they even had a 'bell tower' as well! I don't know if this is 'myth' or 'fact'.Out of interest, I would love to know!!
Tue Nov 13 15:11:17 2007
Susan Burgess, Treharris
my granfather John Davies was born in Silian in 1881.One branch of the family ran the jewellers in Lampeter for many years.I would be pleased to hear from anyone who has more information about the family.
Fri Nov 9 09:11:05 2007
Hugh Jones, Hampshire
I am also a relative of Rhys Jones, Blacksmith. Coming from the english speaking south it always facinated me when going to visit Aunty Annie and Uncle Rhys that everyone in town spoke in Welsh.I remember Rhys taking me for a drink then came Sunday, no pubs open...not for Rhys or the rest of the locals, at the end of his street there was either a Rugby or football club. The silence outside at midday on a Sunday reflected the towns respect for the sabbeth, until one entered the club and boy, what a gathering, it seemed like the total population were inside enjoying a drink. Lampeter felt, to me at least, like the heart of Wales
Wed Sep 19 13:10:17 2007
Rob Samuel Gorseinon
I am doing some research into the way Lobsters were transported from Aberaeron to Lampeter in the early 1960's. Does anyone know if this happened by rail and does anyone have any memories or stories they might share please, Thank in in anticipation.
Tue Sep 18 09:01:27 2007
Les Evans, Gower.
The Manchester and Milford Railway reached Lampeter from Pencader in late 1865, the station was officially opened on the 1st January 1866. The line was extended northwards and was open to traffic to Aberystwyth on the 12th August 1867. In those early days to travel from Carmarthen you caught a Carmarthen & Cardigan Railway train to Pencader which was an end-on junction station with the M&M. In 1911 the Great Western Railway took control of the line, nationalisation in 1947 saw it pass to British Railways Western Region ownership. Ahh - such a beautiful line!
Mon Jul 30 08:43:07 2007
Gwyn Thomas, Hertfordshire
The train going through Felin Fach followed its own rules, blew its whistle when there was a big wedding in the neighbourhood, stopped at the railway crossing near the school to let people off sometimes and on one occasion returned to the station when someone just missed it. Those were the days!
Tue Feb 27 09:46:50 2007
Ivor Morgan, Lexington, Massachusetts
I do remember the railroads, both the push/pull to Aberaeron & the Aberystwyth line. I am descended from country Welsh families and learnt to read and write in Silian school. I remeber selling my rabbits to Jones Bros butchers in Lampeter. They got more from them than did I.
Wed Dec 6 09:27:41 2006
Do you have any memories or stories of Lampeter life in days gone by? Add your comments and recollections below:
The family of Noel Davies have lived in Lampeter for four generations and he's known locally as something of an expert on the area's history. Here he paints a pen portrait of the town's past and the importance of the university to its present prosperity. 
