History of Cardigan

Cardigan was founded in 1093 by the Norman Roger de Montgomery. Today it's most famous feature is it's Castle Ruins which in 1176 became the site of the first competitive Eisteddfod, a Welsh literature, performance and music festival.

In more recent times, the castle has been privately owned and due to this became the ruin as it stands today. Ceredigion County Council bought the castle in 2003 and have been working to maintain it since.

Also famous for it's port, Cardigan sported over 300 sailing vessels in the early 19th Century along with more than 200 ships built in local shipyards. Cilgerran slate was exported from the port itslef, but this all came to an end when the river silted up in the early part of the twentieth century.

Today Cardigan is popular with locals and vistors alike, providing an ideal holiday destination.

Further Reading

To find out more about Cardigan and its history, we recommend looking through the selection of books available about the town. Links to buy books securely online are provided, but you may also be able to find them in the many shops in Cardigan itself, such as those in the retail category of our directory.