Chartism GangChartism Gang

2020thth June 2007 June 2007

AgendaAgenda WelcomeWelcome Update on community Chartism plansUpdate on community Chartism plans Update on the SE Wales Chartism ProjectUpdate on the SE Wales Chartism Project

• Results of consumer researchResults of consumer research• GrantsGrants

Any other businessAny other business Next MeetingNext Meeting Update on The Shire Hall HLF renovation Update on The Shire Hall HLF renovation

and interpretation project and tour of and interpretation project and tour of Shire HallShire Hall

SE Wales ProjectSE Wales Project

HERIAN has taken on role of HERIAN has taken on role of coordinatorcoordinator

LA group and the Chartism GangLA group and the Chartism Gang Linking existing HERIAN projects:Linking existing HERIAN projects:

• PerformancePerformance• Trail of LightTrail of Light• Information KiosksInformation Kiosks

Other activitiesOther activities

Secured a budget from WAG Secured a budget from WAG • PR activity during run up to election, PR activity during run up to election,

including:including: Street theatre Street theatre ““Your voice, your choice” Your voice, your choice” Chartist school workshopsChartist school workshops Chartist – trace your ancestors dayChartist – trace your ancestors day

• PR included BBC Wales, BBC Cymru, PR included BBC Wales, BBC Cymru, Western Mail, Argus, etcWestern Mail, Argus, etc

SurveysSurveys

2 surveys undertaken2 surveys undertaken• Street survey – outside the Westgate Street survey – outside the Westgate

HotelHotel• Focus Groups – at Merthyr and NewportFocus Groups – at Merthyr and Newport

Street SurveyStreet Survey 110 people stopped.110 people stopped. 67% had not heard of Chartism.67% had not heard of Chartism. 20% of the 33% that had heard 20% of the 33% that had heard

about it claimed to know what their about it claimed to know what their cause was.cause was.

Only 25% of people between 16 – 30 Only 25% of people between 16 – 30 knew what Chartism was – whereas knew what Chartism was – whereas 53% of those over 50 knew.53% of those over 50 knew.

Of those that knew about Chartism:Of those that knew about Chartism:• 50% named John Frost50% named John Frost• 72% could name a monument in 72% could name a monument in

NewportNewport• 66% thought that more should be done 66% thought that more should be done

to highlight the regions part in Chartism to highlight the regions part in Chartism and in the birth of democracyand in the birth of democracy

Research MethodologyResearch Methodology Two focus groupsTwo focus groups

• 2727thth March in Merthyr March in Merthyr• 2828thth March in Newport March in Newport

All respondents to have interest in visiting museums or All respondents to have interest in visiting museums or heritage attractions heritage attractions

Mix of social class B/C1/C2 /DMix of social class B/C1/C2 /D

Merthyr group ages 35 – 65Merthyr group ages 35 – 65

Newport group age 18 - 40Newport group age 18 - 40

Awareness of local history - Awareness of local history - MerthyrMerthyr

This group were very aware of the history of the area, This group were very aware of the history of the area, particularly the industrial heritageparticularly the industrial heritage

Mention was given to:Mention was given to:• The coal and steel industriesThe coal and steel industries• how people came to the area to workhow people came to the area to work• The Merthyr riotsThe Merthyr riots• The Rebecca riotsThe Rebecca riots• Cyfarthfa CastleCyfarthfa Castle

There was a great pride in the history of their area, in the There was a great pride in the history of their area, in the fact that it was known throughout the country as a place fact that it was known throughout the country as a place of interest of interest

“wherever you go, people know Merthyr”

Awareness of local history - Awareness of local history - NewportNewport

Local history was seen as more modern Local history was seen as more modern • 50-100 years back50-100 years back

One mention of the history of the ironworks in Blaina and One mention of the history of the ironworks in Blaina and the resulting use of Newport to ship ironthe resulting use of Newport to ship iron

However, industrial heritage was perceived as However, industrial heritage was perceived as uninteresting - they ‘couldn’t relate to’uninteresting - they ‘couldn’t relate to’

Anything further back than 20Anything further back than 20thth century didn’t appear to century didn’t appear to hold any interest hold any interest

Overall, whether due to age or location, the Newport Overall, whether due to age or location, the Newport group was less interested in local history than the group was less interested in local history than the Merthyr groupMerthyr group

“I think its so far back you just can’t comprehend it”

Spontaneous Awareness of Spontaneous Awareness of ChartismChartism

There was little awareness of Chartism in either groupsThere was little awareness of Chartism in either groups One person in the younger group was fully aware of the One person in the younger group was fully aware of the

March to Newport but less aware that this march was for March to Newport but less aware that this march was for the votethe vote

One or two in the older group had a vague recollection of One or two in the older group had a vague recollection of the name, but nothing solidthe name, but nothing solid

The name ‘John Frost’ had recollection for some from The name ‘John Frost’ had recollection for some from Newport, but little awareness of who he wasNewport, 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

Initial reactions to Chartism Initial reactions to Chartism (after description)(after description)

“It’s the passion, the chanting on the march,

people lost their lives for the right to vote." Merthyr

“You think of history as being 1066, you don’t think it happened

out there on the doorstep”. Newport

“I’m interested in the fact that people marched to here, made a stand.“ 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

“ History needs to be about ordinary

people, people you can relate to”

Newport

“I’m not really interested in

politics”. Newport

POSITIVES +

“People would stand together years ago, for

their rights, they still would round here” Merthyr

NEGATIVES -

“Its weird to think it happened out there!“

Newport

“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 don’t care about the vote, I don’t vote.” Newport

“I think things just fade, people

don’t care because its so old” Newport

Reactions to ChartismReactions to Chartism The key elements that captured the imagination were:The key elements that captured the imagination were:

• The unity of those involved in the march – ordinary The unity of those involved in the march – ordinary people sticking together and fighting for their rightspeople sticking together and fighting for their rights

• The local history element of it – that it happened in The local history element of it – that it happened in their areastheir areas

Other aspects that were liked by the Merthyr group were:Other aspects that were liked by the Merthyr group were:• The historical aspect of helping winning the vote for The historical aspect of helping winning the vote for

all men – the right to vote was seen as important by all men – the right to vote was seen as important by both groups, but not necessarily an interesting part of both groups, but not necessarily an interesting part of the story by those in Newportthe story by those in Newport

• The industrial heritage aspect – they saw a direct The industrial heritage aspect – they saw a direct correlation with workers throughout the 20correlation with workers throughout the 20thth Century Century such as the general strike of 1926/ miner’s strikesuch as the general strike of 1926/ miner’s strike

The Newport group were interested in The Newport group were interested in • The more violent aspects of the Newport uprising The more violent aspects of the Newport uprising

The name ‘Chartism’The name ‘Chartism’

There were no real associations with name ‘Chartism’ There were no real associations with name ‘Chartism’ which resulted it in being perceived as slightly which resulted it in being perceived as slightly uninspiring in comparison with the story being tolduninspiring in comparison with the story being told

Words such as ‘rebellion’, ‘riot’ and ‘revolution’ were Words such as ‘rebellion’, ‘riot’ and ‘revolution’ were seen as more inspiring and it was noted that The seen as more inspiring and it was noted that The ‘Rebecca riots’ are well known. ‘Rebecca riots’ are well known.

‘‘Democracy’ was generally seen as being ‘too political’ – Democracy’ was generally seen as being ‘too political’ – although the older group felt the right to vote was although the older group felt the right to vote was important, overall it was the way in which they achieved important, overall it was the way in which they achieved the vote that was of interestthe vote that was of interest

‘‘Industrial’ had negative connotations for the younger Industrial’ had negative connotations for the younger group in particular, as it was seen as boringgroup in particular, as it was seen as boring

Interest in ChartismInterest in Chartism Overall, the younger group in Newport were surprisingly Overall, the younger group in Newport were surprisingly

disinterested in the story of Chartismdisinterested in the story of Chartism• There was interest in the civil unrest and the violence, There was interest in the civil unrest and the violence,

and the fact that that it happened locally, but most and the fact that that it happened locally, but most didn’t see any relevance of the Chartists to their livesdidn’t see any relevance of the Chartists to their lives

• While most liked the idea of social history, the story of While most liked the idea of social history, the story of the ‘ordinary man’ in other contexts, they did not see the ‘ordinary man’ in other contexts, they did not see that it might fit here that it might fit here

The older group, however, seemed more enthused by the The older group, however, seemed more enthused by the story, which appeared to fit in with their ideas of what story, which appeared to fit in with their ideas of what constituted ‘local history’ and the idea of social history constituted ‘local history’ and the idea of social history that they were interested inthat they were interested in

There was spontaneous mention of the suffragettes fight There was spontaneous mention of the suffragettes fight for the votes for women, which has had greater emphasis for the votes for women, which has had greater emphasis placed on it previously placed on it previously

Potential for Chartism heritage Potential for Chartism heritage attractionsattractions

The older group felt there was potential for chartist The older group felt there was potential for chartist related heritage in the arearelated heritage in the area• There was interest in this group at the idea of the trail There was interest in this group at the idea of the trail

and visiting the places that were relevant and visiting the places that were relevant • This idea was less well received by the younger group, This idea was less well received by the younger group,

certainly until their interest had been captured by certainly until their interest had been captured by another meansanother means

• There would need to be a focus on Merthyr, as a lot of There would need to be a focus on Merthyr, as a lot of the focus was felt to be on Newportthe focus was felt to be on Newport

This group also felt that the events could be tied in to the This group also felt that the events could be tied in to the coal or steel industries, and places related to thiscoal or steel industries, and places related to this

Potential for Chartism heritage Potential for Chartism heritage attractionsattractions

For the younger group, re-enactment was felt to be the For the younger group, re-enactment was felt to be the best way to get their interest best way to get their interest • Show the march and how it took placeShow the march and how it took place• Show what life would be like if the vote hadn’t been Show what life would be like if the vote hadn’t been

wonwon Both groups thought that film would be a way of getting Both groups thought that film would be a way of getting

younger people interested younger people interested Initially at least, it would appear that gaining the interest Initially at least, it would appear that gaining the interest

of people in the subject matter, with an event such as a of people in the subject matter, with an event such as a re-enaction, or a Chartist’s day, is important, as re-enaction, or a Chartist’s day, is important, as awareness is currently lowawareness is currently low

Next actionsNext actions

Seeking FundingSeeking Funding

Putting together a Project Planning Putting together a Project Planning Grant application for HLFGrant application for HLF• To work with community groupsTo work with community groups• Cost and define in detail the overall Cost and define in detail the overall

approachapproach Will then put in a full HLF grant Will then put in a full HLF grant

application – aim to get elements of application – aim to get elements of the project up and running for 2010the project up and running for 2010

Seeking FundingSeeking Funding

Working on a Newport project – to Working on a Newport project – to develop local community stories and develop local community stories and an interactive version of the Mullock an interactive version of the Mullock picturepicture

Other activitiesOther activities

Putting in for an HOV grant for Putting in for an HOV grant for community group activity in that community group activity in that area.area.

Creating a “Chartist Mark” that we Creating a “Chartist Mark” that we hope all involved will use to start hope all involved will use to start linking the sites and stories togetherlinking the sites and stories together

Expanding the area – to include Expanding the area – to include Merthyr and Aberdare, as well as Merthyr and Aberdare, as well as CarmarthenshireCarmarthenshire

Any QuestionsAny Questions

Suggested date for new Suggested date for new meetingmeeting

1414thth November 2007 November 2007