Aberporth

Aberporth

Leaping Dolphin sculpture in the centre of Aberporth
Aberporth
Aberporth shown within Ceredigion
Population 2,374 (2011)[1]
OS grid reference SN2549251448
Principal area
Ceremonial county
Country Wales
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Cardigan
Postcode district SA43 2
Police Dyfed-Powys
Fire Mid and West Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK Parliament
Welsh Assembly
Aberporth beach
Aberporth c. Aberporth

Aberporth is a large village and local-government community in Ceredigion on the west coast of Wales. The population was 2,485 in 2001,[2] 49 per cent of whom spoke Welsh, according to the 2001 Census. The population fell slightly to 2,374 at the 2011 Census. Its beaches have earned Blue Flag status.[3]

Location

The village lies at the southern end of Cardigan Bay about six miles north-east of Cardigan and ten miles south-west of New Quay, some two miles north of the A487, on the B4333 and about 2 miles from Tresaith. It is on the Ceredigion Coast Path, part of the Wales Coast Path.

History

In the 16th century, Aberporth was a subsidiary landing point for the port of Cardigan. Boats, nets and salt for preserving were brought in from Ireland. It developed rapidly in the late 17th and early 18th centuries as local people began to take part in the maritime trade. It became a very active port with the northernmost of the two beaches extending into the river valley and provided a safe anchorage. Lime kilns, coal yards and warehouses were built on its south shore.[4]

Aberporth developed into one of the main centres of the herring fishing industry in Wales. Drifting and netting were both employed and at one time at least 20 full-time herring smacks, a type of traditional fishing boat, went to sea regularly. The industry persisted until the beginning of the First World War when fish stocks declined.[5] Crab and lobster fishing continues on a small scale to this day.

Amenities

The main industries are Ministry of Defence work at the QinetiQ missile range, and tourism.

Its Anglican parish church is St Cynwyl's within the Church in Wales. It is a small church that was renovated in 1857, but it has been decaying in the last few decades.

ParcAberporth technology park is located near here, which hosts organisations involved in the sectors of defence, aerospace and the technology of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). ParcAberporth is linked with the research facilities at the nearby University of Wales, Aberystwyth.

The village's two sandy beaches – Traeth y Dyffryn, also known as Traeth y Llongau[6], and Traeth Dolwen[7] – have been awarded a Blue Flag several years running. Aberporth is a recreational fishing village in the summer and is also used by divers and boating people.

In 2006 orcas and harbour porpoises were seen, but such sightings are rare. Even rarer was a turtle seen in 2005. Sunfish. Basking sharks are sometimes seen offshore in the summer.

Near Aberporth lies Aberporth Airport (West Wales Airport), now a centre for drone research.

Education

In 1834, Aberporth School was established, and had 31 pupils in 1836. In 1854, a building with a capacity of 110 pupils was built, and the average attendance in 1904 was 68. It was a national school until 1926, when it changed to a Church of England school. In 1915, a council school was established.[8]

The primary school in Aberporth today is called Ysgol Gymunedol Aberporth.[9]

Notable people

  • Ricky Evans (born 1960), rugby union football international

Weather station

The Met Office has a weather station at Aberporth.[10] It is one of the 22 locations whose reports are included in the BBC Shipping Forecast. Data is available going back to 1941.[11]

Typically, less than 3 days[12] of the year will reach 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) or above, the warmest of which should rise to 26.8 °C (80.2 °F).[13] – The highest temperature recorded at Aberporth was 32.7 °C (90.9 °F), during July 2006.[14] On average 18.3 nights will report air frost and the coldest night of the year should fall to −4.5 °C (23.9 °F).[15] The lowest recorded temperature was −9.9 °C (14.2 °F), during January 1963[16]

Rainfall averages around 870mm a year, with at least 1mm falling on 143.5 days.

Climate data for Aberporth 133m asl, 1971-2000, Extremes 1960-
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 13.4
(56.1)		 15.2
(59.4)		 21.0
(69.8)		 25.6
(78.1)		 26.6
(79.9)		 31.5
(88.7)		 32.7
(90.9)		 31.5
(88.7)		 25.2
(77.4)		 22.0
(71.6)		 17.0
(62.6)		 14.1
(57.4)		 32.7
(90.9)
Average high °C (°F) 7.3
(45.1)		 7.3
(45.1)		 8.7
(47.7)		 10.6
(51.1)		 13.7
(56.7)		 15.9
(60.6)		 18.0
(64.4)		 18.1
(64.6)		 16.1
(61)		 13.2
(55.8)		 10.0
(50)		 8.3
(46.9)		 12.3
(54.1)
Average low °C (°F) 2.9
(37.2)		 2.6
(36.7)		 3.8
(38.8)		 4.9
(40.8)		 7.5
(45.5)		 10.0
(50)		 12.2
(54)		 12.3
(54.1)		 10.7
(51.3)		 8.4
(47.1)		 5.6
(42.1)		 3.9
(39)		 7.1
(44.8)
Record low °C (°F) −9.9
(14.2)		 −7.5
(18.5)		 −6.6
(20.1)		 −2.0
(28.4)		 0.1
(32.2)		 1.7
(35.1)		 5.6
(42.1)		 5.5
(41.9)		 3.3
(37.9)		 −0.9
(30.4)		 −5.0
(23)		 −6.0
(21.2)		 −9.9
(14.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 88.5
(3.484)		 62.7
(2.469)		 63.7
(2.508)		 50.7
(1.996)		 48.2
(1.898)		 61.1
(2.406)		 49.2
(1.937)		 68.2
(2.685)		 75.7
(2.98)		 104.2
(4.102)		 98.3
(3.87)		 99.2
(3.906)		 870.2
(34.26)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 54.6 74.0 109.7 168.6 213.6 190.5 198.7 184.8 141.0 100.1 63.3 45.6 1,544.5
Source: Met Office[17]

References

  1. ↑ "Community and Ward population 2011". Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  2. ↑ Office for National Statistics: Census 2001: Parish Headcounts: Ceredigion
  3. ↑ Blue Flag beaches in Wales Archived 1 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 18 December 2011
  4. ↑ Jenkins, J. Geraint. Ceredigion: Interpreting an Ancient County. Gwasg Careg Gwalch (2005) p. 51.
  5. ↑ Jenkins, J. Geraint. Ceredigion: Interpreting an Ancient County. Gwasg Careg Gwalch (2005) p. 52.
  6. ↑ "Tresaith ac Aberporth: Taith gerdded ar hyd yr arfordir a'r cefn gwlad" (PDF). Darganfod Ceredigion. 2001. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  7. ↑ "Aberporth". Darganfod Ceredigion. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  8. ↑ "Ref:Aberporth". Ceredigion Archives - School Records. Ceredigion County Council. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  9. ↑ EduBase details for 400607
  10. ↑ Office stations Archived 18 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ Met Office – Aberporth data.
  12. ↑ ">1971-2000 average >25c days". Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  13. ↑ ">1971–2000 average warmest day". Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  14. ↑ "2006 Maximum". Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  15. ↑ ">1971-2000 average coldest night". Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  16. ↑ ">1963 Minimum". Retrieved 26 September 2011.
  17. ↑ "Aberporth 1971–2000 averages". Met Office. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011.
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