New Quay History
New Quay and its archaeology, antiquities and history, is a seaside town in Ceredigion (formerly Cardiganshire), West Wales. Situated on the Cardigan Bay coastline, between Aberaeron and Cardigan. Follow the B4342 road to the small village of Llanarth and the A486 to Synod Inn.
New Quay’s conservation area is one of 13 conservation area in the county of Ceredigion. Conservation Areas are designated to preserve and enhance the special character of areas of architectural or historic interest. These conservation areas are selected according to the quality of the area as a whole, including the contribution of key individual or groups of buildings, trees, open space and streetscape.
For the full information, including information on designations, individuals should contact the planning department at Ceredigion County Council.
What county is New Quay in?
New Quay is a seaside town, community and electoral ward in Ceredigion, Wales.
What is the population of New Quay?
The population of New Quay was 1,2000 in 2001, reducing to 1,082 in the 2011 census.
How far is Aberaeron from New Quay?
The distance between Aberaeron and New Quay by road is 7.5 miles.
Table of Contents
1. Local History
2. Journal Index
3. Illustrations and Old Pictures
4. Schools and Education
5. Industry and Trades
6. Street Names
7. Ships, Shipbuilding and Martime History
8. Churches, Chapels and Religion
9. Location Map
10. Topography
11. Gallery
12. References
13. Links
New Quay, Ceredigion, West Wales – a small historic seaside village on the Cardigan Bay coast
| History of New Quay |
|---|
 Newquay Fishing Harbour |
| County: Ceredigion Community: New Quay Traditional County: Cardiganshire Map Reference SN35NE Grid Reference SN3882359953 |
| Medieval Parish Cantref: Is Aeron Commote: Caerwedros |
| Ecclesiastical Parish: New Quay, Acres: 307.098 Parish Hundred: Troedyraur |
| Electoral Ward: New Quay |
| Listed Buildings: New Quay Scheduled Monuments: New Quay |
Since 1909 the Ceredigion Historical Society has published articles written about the archaeology, antiquities and history of Ceredigion, many of the articles are about New Quay history.
The society has also produced three county volumes, under the name of the Cardiganshire County History series, these knowledgeable, learned, comprehensive and scholary publications record the history of prehistoric, early and modern Cardiganshire.
1. New Quay Local History
2. Journal Index
- New Quay
- bakers, x:308
- baptists, iv:124
- Bethel Chapel, x:311-12,321,322
- blacksmiths, vi:100; x:313-14
- blockmakers, x:311
- brass band, vii:291
- carpenters, x:312-13
- census, 1851, x:301-27
- church, vii:273; x:322
- dressmakers, x:307-0S
- education, x:302-03,324
- emigration
- see New Quay : ymfudo
- fishermen, x:312
- fishing, vii:273
- foundry, vii:291
- harbour, iv:328
- Harbour Act, iv:119; vii:274
- Harbour Company, vii:274
- harbour dues, vii:293
- herring fishing, vi:121,202
- High Terrace, x:326
- iforiaid, iii:28
- independents, iv:121
- ivorites
- see iforiaid
- labourers, x:317-19
- map, ii:268
- mariners, x:304-07
- Mason Square, x:315
- Mason’s Row, x:315
- masons, x:315
- merchants, x:320
- nailers, x:311-12
- patent slip, vii:297
- Pengeulan, x:326
- Pentre Siswrn, x:315
- Picton Terrace, x:326
- pier, vii:273-4,288,291; x:371
- public houses, x:325
- ropemaker, x:316
- ropewalks, vii:291
- sailmaking, vii:291
- schools, vi:64,85,87
- British school, x:324
- curriculum, ii:155
- grammar school, vii:296; viii:59
- intermediate school (proposed), viii:53
- Misses Barrett, x:322-3
- Private School (Brongwyn Street), x:324
- tutorial school, vii:296
- shipbuilding, vii:273-306; viii:305,306; x:310-11,408
- shoemakers, x:317
- smithies, vii:290-1
- smugglers, v:61
- salt, vii:59
- Tabernacle, x:321
- tailors, x:315
- tramway, vii:275
- weavers, x:316
- widows, x:306-10
- woollen mill, vi:111
- ymfudo, ii:167
- New Quay Hotel, vii:290,291
- New Quay Mutual Protection Club, iv:169
- New Quay Mutual Ship Insurance Society, vii:293
- New Quay Urban District Council, iv:280
3. Illustrations and Old Pictures
- New Quay, 1870, facing vii:287 pl. 8
- New Quay, Cottages of Pengeulan, c1880, facing x:325 pl. 20
- New Quay, A thatched cottage, facing x:324 pl. 19
- New Quay, Women carders and spinners, facing x:324 pl. 18
4. Schools and Education
- education, x:302-03,324
- schools, vi:64,85,87
- British school, x:324
- curriculum, ii:155
- grammar school, vii:296; viii:59
- intermediate school (proposed), viii:53
- Misses Barrett, x:322-3
- Private School (Brongwyn Street), x:324
- tutorial school, vii:296
5. Industry and Trades
- bakers, x:308
- blacksmiths, vi:100; x:313-14
- blockmakers, x:311
- carpenters, x:312-13
- dressmakers, x:307-0S
- foundry, vii:291
- labourers, x:317-19
- merchants, x:320
- nailers,x:311-12
- patent slip, vii:297
- shoemakers, x:317
- smithies, vii:290-1
- tailors, x:315
- tramway, vii:275
- weavers, x:316
- woollen mill, vi:111
6. Street Names
- High Terrace, x:326
- Mason Square, x:315
- Mason’s Row, x:315
- Picton Terrace, x:326
7. Ships, Shipbuilding and Martime History
 New Quay Pier |
- fishermen, x:312
- fishing, vii:273
- harbour, iv:328
- Harbour Act, iv:119; vii:274
- Harbour Company, vii:274
- harbour dues, vii:293
- herring fishing, vi:121,202
- mariners, x:304-07
- ropemaker, x:316
- ropewalks, vii:291
- sailmaking, vii:291
- shipbuilding, vii:273-306; viii:305,306; x:310-11,408
- smugglers, v:61
- salt, vii:59
- New Quay Mutual Ship Insurance Society, vii:293
8. Churches, Chapels and Religion
- church, vii:273; x:322
- baptists, iv:124
- Bethel Chapel, x:311-12,321,322
- independents, iv:121
- Tabernacle, x:321
9. Location Map
10. A Topographical Dictionary of Wales
Originally published by: Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (London, Fourth edition, 1849)
NEW-QUAY, a sea-port, in the parish of Llanllwchaiarn, union of Aberaëron, hundred of Moythen, county of Cardigan, South Wales, 15 miles (N. W. by W.) from Lampeter: the population is included in the return for the parish. This place is advantageously situated on the shore of Cardigan bay, and affords good anchorage to vessels of 500 tons: the depth of water is from two to six fathoms. The haven is securely sheltered from the westerly winds, and, if improved to the extent of which it is susceptible, might be made an excellent harbour of refuge. The pier, at least, might be enlarged, for which purpose a subscription was opened with success; but the attempt has been hitherto frustrated by the want of a sufficient title to the land, which would be requisite to carry that object into effect. In 1835 an act was obtained for making a road from this place to Aberaëron; and in November 1847 a treasury warrant was issued for transferring this creek and Aberaëron from the port of Cardigan to that of Aberystwith. There are sixty schooners and thirty smaller vessels belonging to New-Quay, averaging from 20 to 200 tons’ burthen, and employing about 390 men. Ship-building is extensively carried on, and very fine stone is worked in the vicinity. Fish of very superior quality are found in abundance on this part of the coast: soles, turbot, and oysters, are taken in great numbers during the season; and a good herring-fishery might also be established with advantage. The village is of considerable size, and is inhabited chiefly by persons connected with the business of the port: comfortable lodgings are provided for visitors, who resort to the place in summer for the benefit of sea-bathing. A fair is held on November 12th.—See Llanllwchaiarn.
11. Gallery
Some ideas to share your Stories below!
Have a memory and your not sure what to write? We have made it easy with some prompts and ideas, just think about this place and the importance its had in your life and ask yourself:
- What are my personal memories of living here?
- How has it developed and shops changed over the years?
- Do you have a story about the beach, community, its people and history?
- Tell us how it feels, seeing photographs and images of this place again?
- Tell us your favourite memories about this place?
The aim of the Ceredigion Historical Society is to preserve, record and promote the study of the archaeology, antiquities and history of Ceredigion. That objective has remained the same since the foundation of the Society in 1909, though its name was changed from Ceredigion Antiquarian Society to the Ceredigion Historical Society in 2002.
12. References
- New Quay map (Header): Reproduced under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC-BY-NC-SA) licence with the permission of the National Library of Scotland.
- View: New Quay Historic Mapping
13. External links
- New Quay coastal village website
- Coflein, discover the archaeology, historic buildings, monuments and history of New Quay, Ceredigion
- Historic Place Names, learn about the field names and house names in the community of New Quay
- A Pint of History, read about the history of Ceredigion pub’s, inn’s and local taverns of New Quay
- People’s Collection Wales, share your stories, memories and photographs of New Quay
THE FAIRIES (TYLWYTH TEG)
It seems probable that the tradition of Mermaids is of the same origin as that of fairies.
(p144)
“THE MERMAID AND THE FISHERMEN.
Mr. Lewis, Henbant, an old man who lives in the neighbourhood of Llanarth, Cardiganshire, told me the following tale five years ago, though I am indebted for some particulars to the Rev. D. Lewis, Vicar of Llansantffread:—In times gone by a mermaid was often seen on a rock known as Careg Ina, near New Quay. One day this sea creature became entangled in the nets of some fishermen who were out fishing some considerable distance from the land. She entreated the men to disentangle her, and allow her to return to the water. Her request was granted, and in gratitude the mermaid warned them of a coming storm, and advised them to make for the shore without delay. This they did hurriedly, and as they were nearing the land a terrific storm came on suddenly, and it was with difficulty that they managed to land safely. Other fishermen in another boat on the very same day, not having the advantage of being warned by the mermaid, were caught by the storm and met with a watery grave.
I have also discovered a version of this story at Aberporth, a seaside village some distance to the South of New Quay.
It was formerly believed that there were mermen as well as mermaids, though I have no Welsh tale of a merman.”
From ‘Folk-Lore of West and Mid-Wales’ by J. Ceredig Davies (1911).