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What is HERIAN doing?
Chartism Day - University of Wales, Newport, 7th June - (more information)
The event includes talks by Dr Fabrice Bensimon, Janette Martin and Dr Rohan McWilliam.
Following the success of the Chartism event in Merthyr on 12th April a host of other events are planned including:
Tuesday June 10th 7 pm
'Riots and Chartists in Merthyr'. Lecture: Viv Pugh (Dic Penderyn Society)
Venue: Merthyr Central Library
For details: secretary@glamfhs.org
Wednesday June 11th at 1 - 2 pm
'Stories from the Archives: the Chartist Rising at Newport 1839'
Lecture: Leslie James (SWCHIR – the South Wales Centre for Historical and Interdisciplinary Research, University of Wales, Newport)
Venue: The Riverfront Arts Centre, Newport
Booking line: 01633 656757
For details: http://timezone.newport.ac.uk/staff/lj/index.html
June 13th – 26th
Chartist Workshops for Schools at Newport Museum and Art Gallery
Sylvia Taylor, whose story appeared in the Spring edition of BBC magazine Who do you think you are?, will be showing children how she used historical records to find out about her Chartist ancestor's involvement in the 1839 Rising.
Booking essential: Tel: (01633) 414712 or email: gail.sutton@newport.gov.uk
Frost at the Westgate by Vic Mills
Blackwood Little Theatre Tel 01495 223485
A new Chartism play directed by the award winning playwright and director - Vic Mills.
Sunday August 3rd 2 pm
Chartist Walk around Merthyr
Guide: Viv Pugh (Dic Penderyn Society)
Meet outside Merthyr Central Library. For details Tel: (01685) 377883
Wednesday October 15th 7.00 pm
1st Annual Chartist Lecture
'Deference in Dowlais? Lady Charlotte Guest and the Chartists'
Prof. Angela V. John
Venue: Dowlais Library
Organised by the Dic Penderyn Society
Free entrance: for details Tel (01685) 377883
Saturday November 1st 10.30 am – 4.30 pm
169th Anniversary of the South Wales Rising 1839 at St. Mary's Hall, Newport
Organised by Newport Accent Trust and SWCHIR – contact Tel: 01633 677783
Programme includes:
Keynote lecture: Prof. Owen Ashton (University of Staffordshire),
Chartist Ancestors' Stories (Les James, Colin Gibson)
'Filming the Chartist Rising' (Colin Thomas, film maker) and film show
Chartist Gang
The last meeting of the Chartist Gang took place on the 14th November 2007 – Here are the notes and presentation from the meeting. Efforts are being made to create a logo for all Chartist activities – if you would like to give your views then please look at the ideas on the logo feedback form and send your thought to Kim@candoteam.wanadoo.co.uk.
A petition to seek the creation of a new Bank Holiday in November each year and named Democracy Day, to commemorate the work of the Chartists and other groups who sought democracy for the ordinary people of the UK, is currently on the No 10 Downing Street website. If you would like to add your name to the petition then follow this link - http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Democracy-Day/.
New Newport Chartist website - www.chartistnewport.org/
Web version of the Newport Matters article on Chartism published in November 2007 - www.moon-unit.co.uk/chartists/Chartist2.html
What a brilliant Chartist weekend?
This was the overwhelming response from the people who joined the events last year.
On 3rd November around 100 people participated in the “Meet the Descendants” events, where people told of their successes in discovering the stories of their forefathers involvement in the Chartist Movement.
Chartist Descendants “in the Dock” at Shire Hall, Monmouth
On Sunday 4th 48 people bundled onto a coach to explore the route of the Chartist March together with sites that played a part in the events of 168 years ago. The tour guides gave a fascinating insight into the way of life in the valleys at the time of the March, and the beautiful weather allowed everybody to enjoy the beauty of the area (in particular the Wye Valley, that looked like New England).
All aboard
All in all, a great weekend – now work is in hand with planning for future anniversaries, in particular the 170th in 2009!
Background
The Industrial Revolution changed Southern Wales – 10's of thousands of workers poured into the area during the 18th and 19th centuries – and as well as generating wealth from labouring in the iron, steel and coal industries, they also set about changing the social and political ambitions of the people.
Out of Southern Wales came positive attitudes to education, great political awareness and in time the National Health Service. One of the most significant actions was the Chartist March on Newport – seeking the vote for ordinary men across the UK. Many workers from across the industrial valleys of South East Wales marched on Newport, arriving outside the Westgate Hotel in the stormy weather of 4th November 1839. After a battle over 20 marchers were dead, many others were injured or were running across the countryside to evade the authorities. The 3 leaders – John Frost, Zephaniah Williams and William Jones were captured, found guilty of treason and transported to Australia for demanding the vote – something that we now take for granted.
Chartist sculpture outside the Westgate Hotel Newport
HERIAN is looking at ways of commemorating and explaining the Chartism story across Southern Wales and at the moment is exploring the options. To achieve this activities are planned during the pre election period – and we would like to find people who are interested in working with us on this.
If you would like to find out more about the plans and maybe even get involved then please send your details to chartism@herian.org
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