History of Aberystwyth
1600-1700
1601
Vote
The electoral influence of Aberystwyth's burgesses was first manifested in the election which took place in 1601, when Aberystwyth and Cardigan elected different representatives for the one post.
This was discussed in the house of Commons and a committee appointed to inquire into the election.
A similar thing happened in 1603[16]
1603
Union of English and Scots Crowns
James VI King of Scotland inherits the throne of the England, and became also King James I of England.
1605
Fireworks, Almost
1608
Telescope
1623
Calculator
Wilhelm Schickard devises a mechanical calculator that could add or subtract 6 digit numbers
1627
Taking The Piss
So desperate was the need for potassium nitrate (aka saltpetre) for making gunpowder that when it was discovered that it could be made from urine King Charles I issued a proclamation that families had to collect the urine of their livestock and hand it over to 'Saltpeter men' who collected it daily. The powers of the 'Saltpeter men' were later extended to allow them to to dig up the urine soaked floors of all dove-houses, stables, cellars, etc. To facilitate this, it was illegal to cover the floors with anything other than 'mellow earth'.
1633
Earth vs Sun
Galileo Galilei is placed under house arrest by the church for the belief that the earth revolves around the sun.
1634-1637
Tulip Mania
Rare varieties of tulips became status symbols in the Netherlands, and started to be traded for ever increasing prices. Prices climbed from 1634-1636 and rose exponentially in 1637 peaked in the autumn. At this point the 'bubble' burst leading to widespread ruin and an contributing to an economic depression.
1637
Coining it
Thomas Bushell, the lessee of the royal mines in Cardiganshire, petitioned the king for permission to set up a mint in Aberystwyth castle to save him having to send the local silver to London to be coined. Local silver was struck into half-crowns, shillings, half-shillings, groats, threepences, half-groats, pennies, and halfpennies. It was ordered that these coins should be stamped with the Prince of Wales's plume of feathers on both sides to which was also added an 'open book' which was Bushell's private mark. Coins were minted from from 1638 till 1642 when, in September, the mint was moved to Shrewsbury. It only lasted for about 3 months in Shrewsbury before it was moved to Oxford. The 'plume' and 'open-book' marks can be found on coins dated 1643 and 1644 indicating that these marks were used for several years after the mint left Aberystwyth. These marks can also be found on coins that have the 'ox' mark of the oxford mint.
3d coin showing Charles I minted at Aberystwyth
Groat coin showing Charles I minted at Aberystwyth
(photo by kind permission of SPINK auctions)
Locally created money and ammunition, in the form of sliver coinage and lead smelted into musket shot was a great assistance to the Royalists in the Civil War.
1640
Vote
The first of Aberystwyth's burgesses (John Vaughn of Traescoed) to be elected to the House of Commons. [16]
1642
October 26: Civil War
Civil War starts with the battle if Edgehill
Royalists Garrison
Aberystwyth Castle Garrisoned by Royalists
September: de-Mint
The mint is moved to Shrewsbury
1645
November: Besieged
Castle besieged by Parliamentarians (Cardiganshire Men)
1646
April: Castle taken over
Royalists yielded Castle to Parliamentarians
1647
Taj Mahal
March 3: Castle to be demolished
It is resolved in the house of commons that "That the Castle of Aberystwyth [is to] be disgarisoned and demolished"
Local MP
John Vaughn of Traescoed (the first Aberystwyth burgesses to be elected to the House of Commons) takes a prominent part in taking Aberystwyth Castle with the Parlimenty forces[16]
1648
June 8: New Governor
Captain Thomas Wogan granted a Commission to be Governor of Aberystwyth Castle
1649
Castle Ruined
In 1649 the castle was ruined, (some believe it to have blown up by the Parliamentary forces with gunpowder intended to be used in the mines but there is little evidence to support this). There was no subsequent attempt to rebuild the castle and it has remained so ever since.
1649-1660
Republic
For the only time in its history England becomes a republic
1650
early 1650: 1st Impressions
Visitor described Aberystwyth as “a miserable market town” and its buildings as “transformed into confused heaps of unnecessary rubbidge”[18]
Chapel Washed Away
Around this time the chapel known as 'St Mary' which stood by the beach, in-front of 'Castle House' and was washed away by the sea.
“ An ancient church stood in front of the site of the Castle House, and was overwhelmed about the year 1650 by the sea. ”[22]1665
Plague in London
1666
September 2-5: Fire in London
1672
Stuart's Royal Slaves
Royal Africa Company, formed by Royal Charter and partially backed by Royal finance gains the monopoly on the British slave trade from West Africa.
1673
Britannia, Richard Blome, 1673, p268
“Aberysthwy (sic) or Aberystwyth, so-called from the river Ystwyth, near adjoining; it is seated on a rising ground, and on the River Rydall, near its influx into the sea, once strengthened with a Wall and a castle now ruinated. The Towen is long and ill-built, is governed by a Maior, and other Sub-officers; hath a very great Market on Mondays for corn, wool, cheese and provisions, supplying several counties therewith; and is a place much resorted unto by reason of its fishing trade for herrings, codds, whitings and other fish, and would be more were its inhabitants industrious.”
1687
July 5: Physics Book
Newton publishes Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica
1688
Joint Rule
After ousting the Catholic James II parliament invites William and Mary, the grandchildren of King Charles I, to come from Holland and succeed the throne. William and Mary are Protestant and the conflict between Catholic and Protestant rule is to cause many problems in Britain's future.
1689
Less All-Powerful
Before being allowed to take the throne, parliament demands that William and Mary accept the Bill or Rights which greatly reduced the power of the monarchy.
1690
A Town Hall
The 1st town hall was built in the early 1690's (in use by 1693)[4] and stood on the site of the clock at the top of Greatdarkgate St.
1694
Calculator
Started around 1672 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz completes Staffelwalze (Stepped Reckoner) a mechanical calculator that could do addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
1698
Deregulated Slaving
Parlament yield to pressure from merchants excluded from slaving by the Royal Charter of 1672 which had given a monopoly to the Royal Africa Company. Ending the monopoly increased the slave trade over four fold resulting in over 20,000 slaves being transported every year. By the end of the 17th century, England was the world leader in the trafficking of slaves.
