CYMDEITHAS Aberteifi Society, Cardigan’s Civic and Historical Society, has bought for the town a picture of the Lizzie Ellen, a sailing vessel that plied the coastlines of Wales and the UK at the turn of the last century.

The move follows the 2019 celebration marking the bicentenary of the sailing of the Albion with local emigrants to the Americas from Cardigan.

Built in Cardigan in 1870 and operated initially by the firm of R H Evans in the town, the Lizzie Ellen sailed out of the port for the first ten years of her life.

Although she sailed primarily in British waters, this did not prevent her becoming a victim of a World War One U-boat - UC65 - on June 28, 1917 while returning from Jersey, bound for Newport in south Wales.

Today, the wreck lies in the English Channel about 45 miles south-east of Start Point in Devon.

The painting is attributed to Reuben Chappell (1870-1940) who, it is believed, produced some 12,000 pictures of sailing vessels between about 1890 and 1930.

“Like many groups we have been largely inactive due to the Covid restrictions - unable to meet for regular talks and walks”, said Kathleen Martin, chair of CAS

“The society was able to complete its major 2020/21 project - funding and placing seven blue plaques at sites of lost historical interest around the town.

“Visitors and residents can see them at the Shire Hall, the Angel Hotel, the Old Market Cross and at the sites of the four medieval town gates.

 “As restrictions hopefully ease, our new 2022 project will be to properly display many of the archives relating to the town’s past, which have been gathered together over the years.

“We will hopefully be resuming  activities sometime in 2022 with the programme published in local press and online and would welcome new members.”

Please contact cymdeithas.aberteifi@gmail.com  or tel 077856 568253 for further info.