ABERAERON, or ABERAYRON (ABER-AIRON), a sea-port, partly in the parish of HENVYNYW, but chiefly in the parish of
LLANDDEWI-ABERARTH, lower division of the hundred of ILAR, county of CARDIGAN, SOUTH WALES, 16 miles (S. W. by S.) from
Aberystwith, and 23 (E. N. E.) from Cardigan. The population is returned with Llanddewi-Aberarth. The village is agreeably
situated on the road from Cardigan to Aberystwith, at the lower extremity of the Vale of Aeron, the sides of which are
here abrupt and clothed with wood, and on the shore of Cardigan bay, at the influx of the river Aeron, which here
separates the parishes of Henvynyw and Llanddewi-Aberarth, and, together with some springs in the neighbourhood, affords
the inhabitants an ample supply of water: this river is noted for trout and salmon, and there are several corn-mills on
its banks. Aberaeron is indebted for its origin to the late Rev. Alban Thomas Jones Gwynne, of Ty-Glyn, who, in 1807,
obtained an act of parliament, under the authority of which he built two Viers at the mouth of the river Aeron, with
convenient wharfs, cranes, and storehouses, at an expense of about £6000: that on the west is one hundred yards in
length, and the other `ninety, and both are built of stone; but, from the very exposed situation of the place, they are
insufficient to afford adequate protection to vessels from the violence of north-westerly winds. To remove this
inconvenience, it is the intention of the present proprietor, A. T. J. Gwynne, Esq., to extend the western pier about one
hundred yards, inclining in a northerly direction. The scenery of the Vale of Afton is particularly beautiful, which,
together with its marine atmosphere, retired situation, and improving condition, may render this, at no distant period, a
place of considerable resort during summer. Upwards of thirty new leases have been lately granted, pursuant to which
several houses have been already built, and others are in progress: a general post-office, and an excellent posting-house
and hotel, have been established, the latter affording to families an equal degree of comfort and privacy to any in the
principality. The port is a member of that of Cardigan, and is one of the most thriving within its jurisdiction: there
are from thirty to forty sloops belonging to it, of from seventeen to one hundred tons' burden, which are navigated by
about one hundred and twenty seamen of this place: they are chiefly employed in the importation of coal and culm, and two
of them trade regularly with Bristol. The principal articles of importation, in addition, are grocery and timber; and of
exportation, butter and oats: there is also a lucrative herring fishery, in which about thirty boats, with seven men to
each, are engaged. Near the entrance into the harbour there is a bar, which is dry at low water. The merchants' stores are
open weekly, on Wednesday, for the reception of corn; and it is intended to establish a weekly market for provisions,
&c., under the auspices of Colonel Gwynne, the present proprietor of the manor: a fair for the hiring of servants is held
on November 13th. The magistrates for the division hold petty sessions once a month; and courts leet for the manor are
held in May and October. There are places of worship for Independents and Calvinistic Methodists. A school on the late Dr.
Bell's plan is supported partly by subscription. Mynach-dy, the property and residence of Col. Gwynne, situated at a short
distance from the town, is supposed, from its name (which signifies " monastery"), to have been anciently a small
ecclesiastical establishment: in the grounds are some tumuli, called Hen Gastell, of obscure origin. On the sea-shore,
near the town, there is a small circular encampment, designated Casten Cadwgan, and supposed to have been constructed by
Cadwgan ab Bleddyn, about the year 1148.