The twenty-first election to Cardiganshire County Council took place in April 1958. It was preceded by the 1955 election and followed by the 1961 election.
Candidates 41 candidates were returned unopposed resulting in only nine contests.
Eight aldermen retired, of whom four sought election. Retiring councillors stood down in favour of aldermen in Aberystwyth, Llanllwchaiarn and at Bow Street, where D.R. Morgan, first elected in 1922, was again returned. At Aberporth, however, retiring alderman the Rev. Evan Melinfab Lewis was opposed by the retiring councillor, the Rev. Tegryn Davies.
Outcome
With only nine contests, attention focused entirely on the contest at Aberporth between the retiring alderman and councillor, both of whom were nonconformist ministers. Evan Melinfab Lewis, Baptist minister at Penparc, was a previous chairman of the council and a member since 1937, while Tegryn Davies was the Congregational minister at Aberporth. Denominationlism featured prominently in the contest and on a turnout of 88%, Davies was returned. It was reported that the crowd that gathered at Aberporth to hear the result was among the largest ever seen at a Cardiganshire local authority election. Two other sitting members were also defeated.
Results
Aberaeron
Aberbanc
Aberporth
Aberystwyth Division 1
Aberystwyth Division 2
Aberystwyth Division 3
Aberystwyth Division 4
Aberystwyth Division 5
Aberystwyth Division 6
Aeron
Borth
Bow Street
Cardigan North
Cardigan South
Cilcennin
Cwmrheidol
Devil's Bridge
Felinfach
Goginan
Lampeter Borough
Llanarth
Llanbadarn Fawr
Llanddewi Brefi
Llandygwydd
Llandysul North
Llandysul South
Llansysiliogogo
Llanfair Clydogau
Llanfarian
Llanfihangel y Creuddyn
Llangoedmor
Llangeitho
Llangrannog
Llanilar
Llanrhystyd
Llanllwchaiarn
Llansantffraed
Llanwnen
Llanwenog
Lledrod
Nantcwnlle
New Quay
Penbryn
Strata Florida
Taliesin
Talybont
Trefeurig
Tregaron
Troedyraur
Ysbyty Ystwyth
Election of Aldermen
In addition to the 50 councillors the council consisted of 16 county aldermen. Aldermen were elected by the council, and served a six-year term. Following the 1955 election, there were eight aldermanic vacancies which were filled at the annual meeting.
The following retiring aldermen was re-elected: D.R. Morgan, Bow Street Mrs G.C. Evans, Aberystwyth Capt. D. Oswald Davies, New Quay
In addition, the following new aldermen were elected: Isaac R. Lewis, Capel Bangor J.E. Rogers-Lewis, Abermeurig W.G. Hughes, Silian Griffith Davies, Pontshaen Rev Tegryn Davies, Aberporth
Evan Evans, Cilcennin, stood down after over thirty years as a member of the council
By-elections Eight by-elections were called following the election of aldermen. Four of the wards were contested. At Bow Street, the retiring councillor who had stood down in favour of long-serviong alderman D.R. Morgan was returned unopposed.
Aberporth by-election
Aberystwyth Division 3 by-election
Bow Street by-election
Goginan by-election
Llanllwchaiarn by-election
Llanwnen by-election
Nantcwnlle by-election
Llandysul North by-election
References