Chartism Gang

1. Chartism Gang 20th June 2007

2. Agenda • Welcome • Update on community Chartism plans • Update on the SE Wales Chartism Project • Results of consumer research • Grants • Any other business • Next Meeting • Update on The Shire Hall HLF renovation and interpretation project and tour of Shire Hall

3. SE Wales Project • HERIAN has taken on role of coordinator • LA group and the Chartism Gang • Linking existing HERIAN projects: • Performance • Trail of Light • Information Kiosks

4. Other activities • Secured a budget from WAG • PR activity during run up to election, including: • Street theatre • “Your voice, your choice” • Chartist school workshops • Chartist – trace your ancestors day • PR included BBC Wales, BBC Cymru, Western Mail, Argus, etc

5. Surveys • 2 surveys undertaken • Street survey – outside the Westgate Hotel • Focus Groups – at Merthyr and Newport

6. Street Survey • 110 people stopped. • 67% had not heard of Chartism. • 20% of the 33% that had heard about it claimed to know what their cause was. • Only 25% of people between 16 – 30 knew what Chartism was – whereas 53% of those over 50 knew.

7. Of those that knew about Chartism: • 50% named John Frost • 72% could name a monument in Newport • 66% thought that more should be done to highlight the regions part in Chartism and in the birth of democracy

8. Research Methodology • Two focus groups • 27th March in Merthyr • 28th March in Newport • All respondents to have interest in visiting museums or heritage attractions • Mix of social class B/C1/C2 /D • Merthyr group ages 35 – 65 • Newport group age 18 - 40

9. Awareness of local history - Merthyr • This group were very aware of the history of the area, particularly the industrial heritage • Mention was given to: • The coal and steel industries • how people came to the area to work • The Merthyr riots • The Rebecca riots • Cyfarthfa Castle • There was a great pride in the history of their area, in the fact that it was known throughout the country as a place of interest “wherever you go, people know Merthyr”

10. Awareness of local history - Newport • Local history was seen as more modern • 50-100 years back • One mention of the history of the ironworks in Blaina and the resulting use of Newport to ship iron • However, industrial heritage was perceived as uninteresting - they ‘couldn’t relate to’ • Anything further back than 20th century didn’t appear to hold any interest • Overall, whether due to age or location, the Newport group was less interested in local history than the Merthyr group “Ithink itsso far back you just can’t comprehendit”

11. Spontaneous Awareness of Chartism • There was little awareness of Chartism in either groups • One person in the younger group was fully aware of the March to Newport but less aware that this march was for the vote • One or two in the older group had a vague recollection of the name, but nothing solid • The name ‘John Frost’ had recollection for some from Newport, but little awareness of who he was “This wasn’t something we studied” Merthyr “Didn’t they used to worship in secret – was it something to with the Baptists?” Merthyr

12. Initial reactions to Chartism (after description) POSITIVES + “It’s the passion, the chanting on the march, people lost their lives for the right to vote." Merthyr “I’m interested in the fact that people marched to here, made a stand.“ Newport “You think of history as being 1066, you don’t think it happened out there on the doorstep”. Newport “People would stand together years ago, for their rights, they still would round here” Merthyr “it’s the change in history. If they hadn’t done this it would still only be the rich voting today and we would still be the underdogs .” Merthyr “I’m not really interested in politics”. Newport “Its weird to think it happened out there!“ Newport “I think things just fade, people don’t care because its so old” Newport “ History needs to be about ordinary people, people you can relate to” Newport “I don’t care about the vote, I don’t vote.” Newport “We’ve got the vote, we’ve had it a long time, I’m not going to thank anyone for giving it to me.” Newport NEGATIVES -

13. Reactions to Chartism • The key elements that captured the imagination were: • The unity of those involved in the march – ordinary people sticking together and fighting for their rights • The local history element of it – that it happened in their areas • Other aspects that were liked by the Merthyr group were: • The historical aspect of helping winning the vote for all men – the right to vote was seen as important by both groups, but not necessarily an interesting part of the story by those in Newport • The industrial heritage aspect – they saw a direct correlation with workers throughout the 20th Century such as the general strike of 1926/ miner’s strike • The Newport group were interested in • The more violent aspects of the Newport uprising

14. The name ‘Chartism’ • There were no real associations with name ‘Chartism’ which resulted it in being perceived as slightly uninspiring in comparison with the story being told • Words such as ‘rebellion’, ‘riot’ and ‘revolution’ were seen as more inspiring and it was noted that The ‘Rebecca riots’ are well known. • ‘Democracy’ was generally seen as being ‘too political’ – although the older group felt the right to vote was important, overall it was the way in which they achieved the vote that was of interest • ‘Industrial’ had negative connotations for the younger group in particular, as it was seen as boring

15. Interest in Chartism • Overall, the younger group in Newport were surprisingly disinterested in the story of Chartism • There was interest in the civil unrest and the violence, and the fact that that it happened locally, but most didn’t see any relevance of the Chartists to their lives • While most liked the idea of social history, the story of the ‘ordinary man’ in other contexts, they did not see that it might fit here • The older group, however, seemed more enthused by the story, which appeared to fit in with their ideas of what constituted ‘local history’ and the idea of social history that they were interested in • There was spontaneous mention of the suffragettes fight for the votes for women, which has had greater emphasis placed on it previously

16. Potential for Chartism heritage attractions • The older group felt there was potential for chartist related heritage in the area • There was interest in this group at the idea of the trail and visiting the places that were relevant • This idea was less well received by the younger group, certainly until their interest had been captured by another means • There would need to be a focus on Merthyr, as a lot of the focus was felt to be on Newport • This group also felt that the events could be tied in to the coal or steel industries, and places related to this

17. Potential for Chartism heritage attractions • For the younger group, re-enactment was felt to be the best way to get their interest • Show the march and how it took place • Show what life would be like if the vote hadn’t been won • Both groups thought that film would be a way of getting younger people interested • Initially at least, it would appear that gaining the interest of people in the subject matter, with an event such as a re-enaction, or a Chartist’s day, is important, as awareness is currently low

18. Next actions

19. Seeking Funding • Putting together a Project Planning Grant application for HLF • To work with community groups • Cost and define in detail the overall approach • Will then put in a full HLF grant application – aim to get elements of the project up and running for 2010

20. Seeking Funding • Working on a Newport project – to develop local community stories and an interactive version of the Mullock picture

21. Other activities • Putting in for an HOV grant for community group activity in that area. • Creating a “Chartist Mark” that we hope all involved will use to start linking the sites and stories together • Expanding the area – to include Merthyr and Aberdare, as well as Carmarthenshire

22. Any Questions

23. Suggested date for new meeting 14th November 2007