Newport has a great record in respecting its history and looking after its precious historic heritage. Those upset by the demolition of the 1978 mural are often unaware of its genesis. It was conceived as an answer to a problem in the early 70s. The new John Frost Square was designed in the contemporary style of brutalism – with a nasty dark cavernous tunnel linking two shopping areas. To lighten and decorate the area a mural was suggested and the Chartists was the obvious subject. It would create a large area of interest and keeping it well lit would make the area under the car park less menacing.
That was no unanimous welcome for artist Budd’s work when it was unveiled in 1978. Those who spurned representational work sniffily described it as ‘comic-book art’. Other objected to the scary blood, horror and mayhem graphically depicted. The Newport Branch of the National Society of Whingers and Moaners complained of wasted money and forecast that it would be graphittied and ruined. It never was.
The mural was loved by Newportonians. It was the most popular of all the street art commissioned by Newport Council then and since. Generations of Newport schoolchildren used it as a giant visual aid to help them prepared for their re-enactments of the events of November 4th 1839. The Council is committed to replace the mural with a work of at least equal merit. Little credit is given to the City Council for their heroic work in maintaining Tredegar House and Grounds, Victoria Place and the Transporter Bridge from the bulldozers. All were threatened.
The success of the Chartist murals persuaded the Council to commission other splendid murals at the Old Green Crossing and the Market. All have been successful and enthusiastically welcomed by Newportonians. In 1991 Christopher Kelly produced three groups of statues depicting Chartist Ideals of “Union, Prudence and Energy’. There are located on the Square where at least 20 Chartists died. Their message is less direct than the murals, but they represent a powerful statement.
The first Newport city Chartist mural is in the Civic Centre. Painted by German Hans Feibush in 1961 it is a part of a tableau of Newport history. Recently a fine new bridge in Blackwood was named the Chartist Bridge and a magnificent statue 26ft high of a Chartist was sited there. It is the work of Sebastian Boyce,
Chartism is at the core of Newport’s DNA. On November 4th every year a commemoration is held in the cemetery of Newport Cathedral. A week’s events recall the history. We annually re-dedicate ourselves to the Chartist ideals. No area in the whole of the UK had done more to honour the memory of the Chartists and advance their ideals than Newport. This year will be a vintge one with splendid events starting on November 2nd.
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