Cardiganshire was popularly known as being very bare and mountainous.
The countryside wasteland was grazed by cattle and some sheep and, where possible, arable land was cultivated. But this was limited to the coastal river valleys and to common fields.
The weaving of a coarse cloth known as "cotton" helped the small holders supplement their farming incomes.
Of great importance were the veins of lead and copper found in the Northern uplands. However, there was not sufficient wood, charcoal or coal to fully exploit these resources.