Woven Memories of Ceredigion Shipwrecks

Artist Vicky Ellis presents 'Woven Memories of Ceredigion Shipwrecks', an exhibition held at Llanerchaeron, Aberaeron, running from August 8 to September 6, 2026. The exhibition delves into the maritime heritage of Ceredigion's coast, recalling the region's historical seafaring communities through woven artworks.

Ellis, a Ceredigion artist weaver, is inspired by paintings, places, and people, creating woven pieces that often integrate words to narrate Welsh stories connected to the sea. The exhibition memorializes some of the ships and their fates, highlighting the dangerous occupation mariners faced during the 18th and 19th centuries due to storms and unpredictable weather.

Historically, the UK recorded tens of thousands of shipwrecks between 1855 and 1879, with a significant portion occurring around the Welsh coast. A particular focus of the exhibition is the story of the ship 'Vigilance,' which was mentioned in a 1764 letter from Elizabeth Lewis of Llanerchaeron, now preserved at the National Library of Wales. This letter described the wreck's cargo of oranges and white wine, and the subsequent local efforts to secure the salvaged goods.