Welsh Journals

VISIT TO LAMPETER HE members of the Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society paid a visit to Lampeter on Wednesday, November 3rd, 1909, when there was a large gathering of the members from all parts of the county. They were met at the Railway Station by Professor Tyrrell Green, representing St. David's College, and the Mayor (Alderman Timothy Richards) and members of the Cor- poration, attired in their official robes, and all marched in procession to the Town Hall. Amongst those present were Sir Edward Pryse, Bart., Gogerddan (the president) and Lady Pryse, the Lord Lieutenant of Cardiganshire and Mrs. Davies-Evans, Highmead; Mr. J. Ballinger, librarian of the Welsh National Library; Chief Constable Williams, Mr. David Samuel, M.A., headmaster of the Aberystwyth County School; Alderman E. P. Wynne, Aberystwyth; Mr. and Mrs. Powell, Tregaron; Professor Tyrrell Green (chairman of the executive committee); Alderman Edward Evans, J.P., Aberystwyth (treasurer), and Rev. J. F. Lloyd (secretary) and Mrs. Lloyd, Llanilar. THE MAYOR'S WELOOME. At the Town Hall, where an exhibition of local antiquities had been arranged, the Mayor extended to the Society a hearty welcotme to the town of Lampeter. Proceeding, he said: Although Lampeter has only a population of about 2,000, we are placed in a very respect- able position and considered in the front respecting commerce and education. The holding of the Assizes, Quarter Sessions, and County Council meetings here is a proof of its importance. The ancient history of our model little town can be traced back to the eleventh century when Owen Gwynedd destroyed the castle of Pontstephen. It has been a puzzle for generations as to the derivation of the name Lampeter Pontstephen, lAanbedr-Pontstephan. It was written Llanbed and Llanbet. We all know of the present Tivy Bridge. But the first bridge was built by Rhys ap Dafydd, ap Rhys of Pencarreg in the fourteenth century at his own expense, and was erected several miles lower down than the present one. Lampeter once could boast of a great number of castles, one on the Bryn, another on the College grounds, which was known as Castell Stephen, another where Castell- buged farm now stands, and of course we must not overlook the Castle Hotel, which is near where St. Thomas' Church stood many years ago. And our town had a Priory once, just where the Post Office now stands. According to your arrangements I understand you intend visiting to-day the site of St. Thomas's Church and Ffynon- hedr. But why not visit Maesyfelin which was built in 1643 by some of the Lloyds of Alltyrodyn, and the love tale of Samuel Pritchard should be read by every Welshman, The poetry composed by Vicar