It was 20 years ago this month that a fire which started at the Seabank Hotel in Aberystwyth destroyed a number of properties on Victoria Terrace.

The devastating fire, on Tuesday, 3 November 1998, destroyed the derelict Seabank Hotel and Plynlymon and Caerleon student halls.

Dozens of students had to be rehoused.

The news made the front page of the Cambrian News that week, which reported the details of the fire.

“Emergency services responded to five emergency calls made almost simultaneously at 3.40am on Tuesday, as flames lit up the night sky, and left the town centre shrouded in smoke,” the article reported.

“A total of 60 firefighters from all over Wales, including Machynlleth and Llanidloes, were called to help deal with the blaze.

“There were 15 major pumping appliances, and four aerial appliances in use at the height of the blaze. One police officer received minor injuries and was taken to hospital.

“The fire quickly spread to the Caerleon and Plynlymon halls of residence and the Glengower Hotel on the right of the Seabank, and to the Clarenden Hotel on its left.

“People staying in the hotels and students living in the damaged halls were evacuated.

“Students in the nearby Blaenwern and Balmoral halls of residence were also moved out.”

The article went on: “Also evacuated were people staying in the Queensbridge Hotel and residents of the new Parc Craig Glas flats behind the Seabank.”

If you’d like to contribute to our Timewatch section, write to Julie McNicholls Vale at Timewatch, Cambrian News, 7 Aberystwyth Science Park, SY23 3AH or email her at [email protected]