THE latest Community News from Lampeter

Museum

RECENT visitors described the museum on College Street as “a lovely place to visit”.

It has now reopened after its winter closure period.

The vast majority of the exhibits on display have all been newly-created for 2018 and focus upon different aspects of Lampeter town and its surrounding area, from those seen last year.

There is a large amount of material about Lampeter town and the 1st World War which details those who died in 1918 during the conflict or shortly afterwards from wounds or illnesses arising from the war.

This biographical information provides facts about the home location of the individuals, plus their army or naval unit. There are revealing and thought provoking accounts of two women who served, one of whom died overseas.

There is also a display about the Dalis Fair which was once a major event in the life of Lampeter when dealers and horses came from many areas of the country to buy and sell animals. For this annual event the town was a hub of activity and the railway was an important means of moving the horses away. The event added much to the commercial life of the town.

Reflecting the wider geographical area there is an attractive account of the history of the parish of

Silian, with unique artefacts relating to the school.

A group of students from Lampeter university have produced a very informative display about suffragettes and suffragists and their important role in seeking to bring about electoral reform in the UK. It links the actions the campaigners took, to visits made to Lampeter.

Another new exhibition relates to the Rees family of Lampeter. The material on display outlines the lives of key members of the family from 1870-1971. It shows their work in operating a nursery in the town, through to a family member creating and operating the Welsh Gazette newspaper, to another’s work on the Manchester and Milford Railway, and the significant work of one other Rees family member in working as private secretary to Lloyd George.

The museum is open on Tuesdays from 10am until 4pm, Wednesdays 11am until 2pm, Thursday 10am until 4pm and Saturday 11am until 2pm. Admission is free.

Ramblers

CAER Cadwgan is the Iron Age hillfort situated in the hills above Cellan with wonderful views over the Teifi Valley and to the Elenydd beyond. The public are granted permissive access to visit the fort by way of the Tir Gofal Agri-environmental scheme as otherwise there are no rights of ways there to enjoy this local heritage.

The walk on Saturday, 31 March, led by James, followed a route promoted by Ceredigion County Council that circles its boundaries in a place rich in history and other archaeology sites. Starting from the village they made their way along improved footpaths through Coed Tangaer with a detour to the hillfort for a short break to enjoy the surrounding views.

The route onward through Gelli-gaer becomes more demanding as the land is waterlogged and rough.

Whereby today many of the old peasants’ cottages around are charmingly modernised and saved from dereliction, the marvel at how people lived and survived in these former humble crofts on such poor land is not lost on the discerning walker.

Not all have been saved for modern life however, with many lying in total ruin observed along way such as along the banks of Ffrwd Cynon to Cae-garw (meaning a rough field), itself a substantial pile of stones with a story to tell. The walk ended at Pentre’r-y-felin on a footpath through Glanffrwd Mill.

The week before on 24 March, led by Marion, they completed the final 11-mile section of the Lampeter to Aberaeron trail starting from Brynnog Farm.

The trail is conveniently accessed using the public bus route, very useful for those with bus passes!

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