Cwmystwyth

Cwmystwyth (also Cwm Ystwyth, Welsh pronunciation: [kʊmˈəstʊɨθ]; English: "valley of the River Ystwyth") is a village in Ceredigion, Wales near Devil's Bridge, and Pont-rhyd-y-groes.

Cwmystwyth

A view towards Cwmystwyth, looking south-east
Cwmystwyth
Location within Ceredigion
OS grid referenceSN789740
• Cardiff90 mi (140 km)SE
Principal area
Ceremonial county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townABERYSTWYTH
Postcode districtSY23
Dialling code01974
PoliceDyfed-Powys
FireMid and West Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament

The Ordnance Survey calculates Cwmystwyth to be the centre point of Wales (52°19′48.791″N 3°45′59.072″W; grid reference SN7972871704).[1]

History

See Cwmystwyth Mines

Discovery of small, oval-shaped stone tools in the area points to the fact that it has been mined for lead since the time of ancient Britons and during Roman occupation. Documentation of mining activities occurred during the reign of Elizabeth I. She engaged the services of two German miners, then went on to sub-let to Hugh Myddleton.[2]

The only significant flat area of the cwm is found before the river reaches maturity near Trawsgoed some 6 miles (9.7 km) further west. Above the village to the east steep slopes rise to the Elenydd moors, above the cwm of the Nant Milwyn, at the head of the hill of Domen Milwyn.

Community Archive Wales Project

Cofnodion Cwmystwyth is a recently established local history group based in Cwmystwyth. The group has 14 regular members of various ages drawn from the Communities First area of Tregaron Uplands, all with a passion for the history of the area. As well as including images, the archive includes transcriptions of census data, baptismal registers and log books as a means of interpreting the history of the village. In the long-term, it is hoped that the project will act as a springboard for establishment of a Cwmystwyth History Society which would produce materials relating to the area and eventually to the creation of a heritage centre to showcase the history of the village. Cofnodion Cwmystwyth joined the Community Archives Wales project in 2007.

Climate

Cwmystwyth experiences an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb) similar to almost all of Wales and the United Kingdom. This translates to a narrow range of temperatures, rainfall in all seasons and low sunshine levels, particularly at upland locations such as inland Wales.

The MetOffice maintains a weather station in the village, with online climate records dating back to 1959. Temperatures range from an absolute high of 32.3 °C (90.1 °F) recorded during July 2006,[3] down to an absolute low of −16.7 °C (1.9 °F), recorded during January 1963.[4] During an 'average' year, the warmest day will likely reach 26.1 °C (79.0 °F)[5] and the coldest night fall to −8.0 °C (17.6 °F).[6] In total just over 3 days[7] should record a temperature of 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) or above, and 59.3 nights[8] should report an air frost.

Rainfall, as one might expect for an elevated place in Wales, is high, at nearly 2000mm a year. At least 1mm will be observed on over 189 days[9] of the year, on average. All averages refer to the period 1971-2000.

Climate data for Cwmystwyth, elevation 301m, 1971-2000, extremes 1959-
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 15.1
(59.2)		 16.5
(61.7)		 20.6
(69.1)		 23.8
(74.8)		 24.5
(76.1)		 29.6
(85.3)		 32.3
(90.1)		 30.4
(86.7)		 27.8
(82.0)		 23.8
(74.8)		 18.7
(65.7)		 13.3
(55.9)		 32.3
(90.1)
Average high °C (°F) 5.8
(42.4)		 5.9
(42.6)		 7.9
(46.2)		 10.1
(50.2)		 13.7
(56.7)		 15.8
(60.4)		 18.0
(64.4)		 17.9
(64.2)		 15.4
(59.7)		 12.2
(54.0)		 8.6
(47.5)		 6.8
(44.2)		 11.5
(52.7)
Average low °C (°F) 0.9
(33.6)		 0.6
(33.1)		 1.7
(35.1)		 2.6
(36.7)		 5.3
(41.5)		 8.0
(46.4)		 10.2
(50.4)		 10.1
(50.2)		 8.1
(46.6)		 5.9
(42.6)		 3.1
(37.6)		 1.7
(35.1)		 4.9
(40.7)
Record low °C (°F) −16.7
(1.9)		 −13.3
(8.1)		 −13.9
(7.0)		 −6.6
(20.1)		 −3.5
(25.7)		 −2.2
(28.0)		 0.6
(33.1)		 0.5
(32.9)		 −3.0
(26.6)		 −3.9
(25.0)		 −7.8
(18.0)		 −11.1
(12.0)		 −16.7
(1.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 192.66
(7.59)		 139.31
(5.48)		 158.19
(6.23)		 108.73
(4.28)		 96.95
(3.82)		 115.9
(4.56)		 115.69
(4.55)		 134.64
(5.30)		 150.98
(5.94)		 187.66
(7.39)		 205.77
(8.10)		 213.49
(8.41)		 1,819.97
(71.65)
Mean monthly sunshine hours 31.9 53.4 74.3 126.4 165.5 138.9 153.6 142.6 109.7 81.5 44.4 25.4 1,147.6
Source 1: Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute[10]
Source 2: MetOffice[11]

References
  1. "Saving the centre of Wales". BBC. 24 October 2002. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  2. Jenkinson, Henry Irwin (1878). Jenkinson's Practical Guide to North Wales. Oxford University.
  3. "2006 Maximum". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  4. "1963 Minimum". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  5. "1971-2000 average warmest day". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  6. "average coldest night". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  7. "1971-2000 >25c days". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  8. "1971-2000 frosts". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  9. "1971-2000 wetdays". Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  10. "Climate Normals 1971–2000". KNMI. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  11. "Long Term Data". Metoffice. Retrieved 24 September 2011.

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