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Chartist history event may help save mural |
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Chartist history event may help save mural |
In 1839 twenty people were killed in Newport, Gwent, when a crowd of 5,000 supporters of the People’s Charter besieged the Westgate Hotel. A Chartist family history event organised by lecturers at the University of Wales, Newport, in collaboration with local history organisations, will provide participants with the opportunity to find out more about this historic event and discover whether their ancestors were involved. The event comes at a time when a mural in the town depicting this historic event is in danger of being destroyed. The event, ‘Meet the Descendants: Chartist Family History’, will take place at Newport Museum in John Frost Square on Monday 30 April from 12 noon to 4pm. Organiser Les James, from the University’s School of Education, told Local History Online ‘We are seeking people with stories to tell about their Chartist ancestors and are eager to talk to anyone who had a Victorian ancestor who campaigned for the right to vote as a Chartist protester or as one of their opponents’. He went on to say that ‘Over the years Gwent Record Office has received many enquiries from people claiming descent from men in the crowd who besieged the Westgate Hotel, where the Mayor and the 45th Regiment made their stand. Over 500 sworn special constables are listed in the records — it could be that their descendants are still living in the area’. Peter Brown of the University’s Centre for Community and Lifelong Learning will be showing people attending the event how, at the click of a mouse, they can explore the vast quantities of data housed in archives all over the country. There will also be experts from the Newport Library, Museum and the Gwent Record Office to provide additional advice and help to local and family historians interested in Chartist history. For further information about ‘Meet the Descendants: Chartist Family History’, contact Rachel Anderton, Newport Museum, tel: 01633 656656.
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27 April 2007 History lecturer Les James and genealogy expert Pete Brown examine some of the documents relating to Newport Chartist Riots in front of the threatened mural.
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