Aberystwyth and Tregaron

Aberystwyth was famous for its shipping, and also for the practice of registering all ships which came into the port. All ships with a deck and burden of more than 15 tons had to be officially registered. The town also became a trading port, with imports like foods, limestone, coal, and exports like lead ore, fish and slate.

Tregaron became a gathering point for sheep and cattle owners, who would drive their livestock from here to London - there is a road called the ‘Old Drovers’ Road’ to Abergwesyn. There was also a highly successful wool industry here, knitting locally collected wool. In 1851 there were 176 hosiers working in the area! In particular they made woollen socks, which were supplied to Welsh miners.