Aberystwyth

Aberystwyth [abɛˈrəstʊɨθ] is a town in the Earldom of Cardiganshire, Wales, within the Commonwealth of England. It's situated on Cardigan By, at the mouth of the Rheidol and Ystwyth rivers, about 76 mi. northwest of Cardiff. It lies in an agricultural region and is a market place, acting as a commercial centre for Cardiganshire. The town itself has no notable manufactures.

Evidence of prehistoric halflings, dwelling here between three and four thousand years ago, are found throughout the neighbourhood. Celtic tribes occupied the area before 700 BC.

An early fort was built in 1109 by Richard de Clare, known as Strongbow, at which time the town was founded. The town's first charter was granted in 1277, when a castle on the site of the early fort was erected by Edward I. In 1649, just a year ago, the castle was razed by Parliamentarian troops, so that at present it's a partial ruin. Aberystwyth is presently under martial law. Population (c.1650), 1,339.