Old Ordnance Survey Maps of Cardiganshire or Ceredigion


This page summarises the local government organisation of Ceredigion since 1889.

  • Cardiganshire County Council was formed in 1889, and in 1894 a network of boroughs, urban district and rural district councils was formed across the county.
  • Cardiganshire had two Municipal Boroughs dating from 1836 (or before): Aberystwyth and Cardigan. Lampeter became a Municipal Borough in 1884.
  • From 1894 there were also 2 Urban Districts: Aberayron and New Quay UDCs. Urban Districts had similar powers to boroughs but lacked the powers to appoint mayors or aldermen. (Aberayron was later renamed Aberaeron).
  • There were also 6 Rural District Councils covering the areas outside the major towns. These were: Aberayron, Aberystwyth, Cardigan, Lampeter, Llandyssil and Tregaron Rural Districts. Most Rural Districts were initially based on the Poor Law Unions, with meetings held at the workhouse.
  • In 1934 Lampeter RDC was absorbed by Aberayron RDC; Cardigan and Llandyssil RDCs were amalgamated as the new Teifiside RDC.
  • In 1974 major reorganisation saw the boroughs, urban and rural districts abolished and Cardiganshire became part of a new county, Dyfed. This was an amalgamation of three counties, Cardiganshire, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.
  • Dyfed was a 2-tier administration with six local government districts: Ceredigion for the former Cardiganshire; Carmarthen, Dinefwr and Llanelli for the former Carmarthenshire; and Preseli and South Pembrokeshire for the former Pembrokeshire.
  • In 1996 Dyfed was abolished and new councils formed based on the historic counties. Dyfed survives for some ceremonial purposes.
  • Cardiganshire was restored as a unitary authority, and was immediately renamed Ceredigion.
  • For a list of our Cardiganshire maps go to the Cardiganshire page, or for the whole of Wales go to the Wales page
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    Minor changes are not listed here, but please advise us of any significant errors or omissions.
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    The Godfrey Edition / sales@alangodfreymaps.co.uk / 13 January 2017