The weekend of 3 and 4 November sees a series of events in and around Newport to mark the anniversary of the Chartist Uprising of 1839. As a result of the uprising, more than 20 Chartists were shot dead and three of its leaders were transported to Australia after being found guilty of treason.
Some of the events are set out below. For further information, please contact Kim Colebrook at Heritage in Action, either by calling 01873 850496 or emailing kim@candoteam.wanadoo.co.uk.
Chartist Weekend 2007
Saturday 3 November
Meet the Chartist Ancestors – meet and quiz people who have traced their family history and discovered that they are connected to one of the individuals involved in the Chartist Uprising of 1839.
The event will take place at St Mary’s Institute on Stow Hill, Newport, (next to the Westgate Hotel) starting at 11am, with coffee at 10.45. The event is free and includes a walking tour of key Chartist sites in Newport. Bring a packed lunch and enjoy a day discovering how people have discovered the stories of their ancestors
Sunday 4 November
Coach Tour of Chartist sites in SE Wales – includes sites Malpas Court (the home of Thomas Prothero), Pontypool Park (the Hanbury estate), various sites in Blaina and Nantyglo, the Shire Hall in Monmouth (where the Chartists were found guilty of treason in 1840) and river front in Chepstow from where John Frost, Zephaniah Williams and William Jones left on their journey to Australia.
The tour will set off from St Woolos Cathedral, Newport at 10am. Tickets are £7 per person (coach and guide) – bring a packed lunch.
Remembrance of the Chartist Dead - this will take place at the memorial stone in St Woolos Churchyard, for those Chartists who died at the Westgate Hotel on 4 November 1839, in particular the 10 men who were buried in an unmarked grave in St Woolos Churchyard.
The commemoration will commence at 4.30pm – and the coach trip will be back in time for the participants to join the ceremony.
More details of the programme are set out below.
CHARTIST ANCESTORS – pioneers of democracy
Saturday 3 November, 11am to 5pm Free Entrance
at St. Mary’s Institute, Stow Hill (next door to Westgate Hotel)
ENJOY A DAY of local stories – step into early Victorian Newport
DISCOVER how descendants have found their Chartist roots
11.00 Introduction Coffee available from 10.45
11.10 The Chartist Story - Pat Drewett & Kim Colebrook
11.40 Newport in 1839 - Colin Gibson & Les James
12.00 - 12.45 Chartist walk - Westgate Hotel to Chartist mural
LUNCH (Either bring a packed lunch or obtain from retailers in vicinity)
13.30 Keynote speaker: Paul Flynn, MP for Newport West
13.45 Our Chartist Ancestors -- descendants reveal their family stories
William Ferriday, one the Chartists killed at the Westgate.
John Lovell, of Newport, wounded at the Westgate, charged with high treason.
John Frost, transported to Tasmania for high treason.
James Horner, shoemaker, publican and Chartist organiser in Newport.
Wright Beatty, Newport coal trimmer, 3 years hard labour for firing at the military.
John Partridge, Chartist printer in Newport, six months hard labour.
Thomas Phillips, Mayor of Newport in 1839, knighted for his action on the day
15.15 Tea break
15.45 'Brain's Trust' - Experts answer questions about how to find out about the people of the Chartist era
Peter Brown (University of Wales, Newport),
Colin Gibson (Gwent Record Office),
Alun Prescott (Newport City Library)
Rachael Anderton (Newport City Museum),
John Humphries (author of ‘The Man from the Alamo’)
Prof. Owen Ashton (Staffordshire University)
16. 45 Conclusion - film showing unveiling of the memorial stone at St. Woolos Cathedral by Alexander Cordell in 1988
Chartist Ancestors is hosted by Accent Newport Trust, which is seeking funding to include a Chartist Heritage Centre in St. Mary’s Institute, and is supported by HERIAN (Heritage in Action); University of Wales, Newport; the Newport City Museum and Art Gallery; Newport City Library; Gwent Record Office; Gwent Local History Council.
