LAMPETER (Llanbedr-

See also:

• PONT (or KYLPONT), ROBERT (1524–1606)

pont-

See also:

• STEPHAN, HEINRICH VON (1831-1897)

Stephan)  , a market town, municipal borough and assize town of Cardiganshire, Wales, on the right bank of the Teifi, here crossed by an ancient stone bridge . Pop . (Tool) 1722 . Lampeter is a station on the so-called Manchester-and-Milford branch line of the Great Western railway . Though of ancient origin, the town is entirely modern in appearance, its most conspicuous object being the Gothic buildings of St David's College, founded in 1822, which cover a large area and contain a valuable library of English, Welsh and foreign works (see UNIVERSITIES) . The modernized parish church of St Peter, or Pedr, contains some old monuments of the Lloyd family . North of the town are the park and mansion of Falcondale, the seat of the Harford family . The name of Llanbedr-pont-Stephan goes to prove the early foundation of the place by St Pedr, a Celtic missionary of the 6th century, while one Stephen was the original builder of the bridge over the Teifi . As an important outpost in the upper valley of the Teifi, Lampeter possessed a castle, which was demolished by Owen Gwynedd in the 12th century . In 1188 the town was visited by Archbishop Baldwin on his way from Cardigan to Strata-Florida Abbey, and the Crusade was vigorously preached at this spot . Lampeter was first imcorporated under Edward II., but the earliest known charter dates from the reign of Henry VI., whereby the principal officer of the town, a portreeve, was to be appointed annually at the court-leet of the manor . The town was subsequently governed under a confirmatory charter of 1814, but in 1884 a new charter was obtained, whereby the corporation was empowered to consist of a mayor, 4 aldermen and 12 councillors .

Although only a small agricultural centre, Lampeter has since 1886 become the assize town of Cardiganshire owing to its convenient position . Until the Redistribution

Act of 1885 Lampeter formed one of the group of boroughs comprising the Cardigan parliamentary district .