South Wales Chartist Convention

The *South Wales Chartist Convention *(hosted by the new University of South Wales ) is being held on Saturday 2nd November 10.15 – 16.15 at the university’s City Campus, Newport.

This event is free of charge for all, but advanced booking is required to les.james22@gmail.com. Also if required, please order ticket(s) immediately for the optional buffet lunch available at £6 per person.

Of course, you can make your own arrangements for lunch. The Coffee shop will be open all day until 3pm.

City Campus is located on the river bank near Newport Bus Station and within ten to fifteen minutes walk from the Railway Station. Directions to venue and car parking details will be sent following your booking.

Saturday 02 November 10.15 -16.15

South Wales Chartist Convention

Hosted by SWCHIR (University of South Wales)

Venue: Newport City Campus, University of South Wales

Free entry for all – please book in advance Doors open 09.30

10.15 Introduction: Dr. Carl Peters

10.30 Colin Gibson: ‘Trails to Trials: Gwent Chartism Project’ (Gwent Archives)

10.50 Les James & David Osmond The Endurance of Chartism at Newport after the Rising of 1839

11.20 Coffee Break

11.50 Professor Angela V. John (Aberystwyth University):

From Women’s Suffrage in Newport to the Six Point Group – The Campaigns of Lady Rhondda

13.00 BUFFET LUNCH available £6 (must be ordered at time of booking)

13.50 Sarah Richards: My Chartist Ancestor – William Davies of Blackwood

14.15 Christabel Hutchings: Found in the archives – a ‘Chartist’ Letter from

Cardiff to Pontypool

14.40 Film (Glyn Waters): The Blaenau Gwent Project

15.00 Short interval

15.20 Discussion: Exploring Connections – Chartism in Bristol and Newport

15.40 Finale:

Songs from ‘The Forgotten’ musical drama performed by Drama students

from the University of South Wales (Director: Vanessa Dodd)

Concluding remarks: Jayne Bryant and Pat Drewett (Newport Accent Trust)

Sunday 03 November

Chartism Blaenau Gwent

Llanhilleth Miners Institute

organised by Blaenau Gwent Historical and Chartist Society

13.00 to 18.00 coach excursion from the Llanhilleth Institute around the important Chartist sites in Blaenau Gwent.

18.00 to 23.00 Celebration at the Institute of the completion of the Blaenau Gwent Chartist Project.

BOTH EVENTS ARE FREE, but places are limited

Monday, 04 November 18.00

Annual Commemoration of the Chartists who died at Newport in November 1839

St. Woolos churchyard at the Newport Cathedral

The Mayor of the City of Newport and the Dean of the Cathedral are attending

All are welcome

Monday 04 November 19.30

Premiere Performance : Let thy Foes Appear! – The opponents of Chartism

This is a ‘orrible history story related with humour by Goff Morgan (Newport’s leading poet) and Paul Busby (author) and the musical entertainment of Frank Henessy and the Hennessys

Venue: St. Mary’s Institute, Stow Hill

Bar and refreshments

Tickets: £8

Enjoy a ‘Night Out’ Promotion sponsored by Arts Council of Wales

Contact: Richard Frame richardframe@hotmail.co.uk or 01633 411543

Monday 04 November 19.00

Songs of Praise

Venue: Salem Chapel, Blaina

There will be opportunity to visit Salem’s Chartist exhibition

Tuesday 05 November 13.30

Children’s Chartist March, Stow Hill

Local school children proceed from St. Woolos to the Westgate Hotel for a dramatic celebration of the People’s Charter for political rights published in May 1838 (175 years ago) performed at the site where Chartists died in November 1838.

Contact: Annette Wells, Newport Museum Tel: 01633 851614

OTHER EVENTS in South Wales – Celebrating the Chartists

Wednesday 16 October 19.00

6th Annual Merthyr Chartist Lecture

Speaker: Huw Williams

Chartism in the 1840s: the Merthyr Tydfil Endurance

Venue: Dowlais Library, Merthyr

Free event sponsored by the Merthyr Chartist Forum & Dic Penderyn Society

Wednesday 06 November 19.00

Concert: Ebbw Vale Male Choir

Venue: Wesleyan Chapel, Nant y Glo

Contact: Steve Bartlett 01495 292817

Thursday 07 November 14.30

Guided Visit to the Round Towers at Ty Mawr Farm (Nant y glo) where the militia were billeted following the Rising

(Access by the kind permission of Mr. Glyn Jones).

Thursday 07 November 19.00

Nant y Glo Rugby Club

A talk about the ‘Scotch Cattle’ movement and buffet (£3)