Easter in Bellevue Park, Newport, South Wales

Nature is fantastic and never fails to impress when every Spring bare tree branches begin to bud, and bare ground begins to produce beautiful primroses, bluebells, daffodils and snowdrops.

Cherry Blossom looking like huge candy floss balls, never fails to delight and I still enjoy standing amongst the petals as they swirl around gently in the wind.

Bellevue Park is such a fairyland. Sited on a severe slope, as many of Wales' parks are, it provides an interesting walk as well as views over the river Usk in the distance. The cafe was, of course, closed as it was Easter, but parents and children were enjoying the play area and bike rides around the steeply sloping paths.

Newport Medieval Ship

Just across the bridge from Newport Castle lies the Riverfront Theatre, but hundreds of years before a large wooden ship anchored against the quay on that very spot. When builders started digging the foundations of the theatre they found the ship, buried in the mud, already holed by previous building work. After much protest from the public, Newport Council agreed to keep the remains of the ship and preserve it.

Ever since, it has remained at a warehouse in Maesglas Industrial Estate. Large tanks preserve the huge wooden beams of this vessel which was sailing trade routes between the Severn estuary in South Wales and the Iberian Peninsula when Christopher Columbus was born and may even have crossed paths with him when he came to dock in Bristol on one of his ventures.

This ship (no-one has discovered her name), is not just "another boat," she is the only example, anywhere in the world, of a 15th Century ship and the people of Newport found her. She is here for the people of Newport and the rest of the world to treasure.

Ancient artefacts such as shoes and combs have been found amidst the wreckage and are on display during open days. Visitors can handle items that are 550 years old. Friends of Newport Ship organise a few days a year when the warehouse is open to the public. Visitors can help support their cause by purchasing items or making donations.

Unfortunately, due to cutbacks within the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) and Newport City Council, there are few funds to keep or even display this vessel, so its up to the Friends of the Newport Ship to come up with ideas to raise funds and help maintain the impetus which will eventually allow people to come and view this ancient piece of our maritime history in its own custom-made museum.

Open Days

Saturday 26th April 2014

Saturday 24th May 2014

Saturday 12 July 2014

South Wales needs tourism, the Newport Ship could bring in hundreds of tourists a year just to see it.

Remember, the Newport Ship belongs to everyone. If you wish to help or find out more then join the Friends of the Newport Ship at:

www.newportship.org

Tel: 01633 215707

Chartism and the Valleys

The 175th Anniversary of the South Wales Rising of 1839 is being celebrated with a monthly newsletter during 2014. Each month information is included on both current and future events as well as historical ones. Much of the historical data has only recently been uncovered, found both here and in Australia.

Each document includes far too much information to condense suitably into such a small space as this.

To sign up for your own monthly copy, contact Les on the following e-mail address:        

les.james22@gmail.com

I'm sure he will give you a very warm welcome. He would also appreciate any publicity you can
give to his specialist subject and these events by circulating his newsletter which is available in pdf format.

Celebrating the Chartists
NEWSLETTER

A list of contents of the current edition is listed below:

2014 is the 175th Anniversary of the south Wales Rising 1839

Major Stories:

• Newport Chartist Commission appointed
• Anniversary plans roll out across the region
• Shire Hall wants a video link with Tasmania

New Features:

• Digital Chartist Sources
• Book of the Month

175 Years Ago:
Henry Vincent on Tour - Gloucestershire to Monmouthshireand What's in Newport Museum?  Silver Cups for Thomas Phillips

EMAIL to your friends   RECOMMEND they join the mailing list
ADVERTISE the NEWSLETTER - available FREE online
ADVERTISE the EVENTS listed on Page 9
PUT NEWSLETTER on Websites
REQUEST copies are available in your local library

NB  The Newsletter is a voluntary enterprise without funds.   We are not able to provide printed Newsletters
A FREE High Quality Definition PDF Version (4.81 MB)
is NOW available on request

for anyone wishing to produce printed copies.

Newport Wetlands

Lots to see

This week the wetlands were swarming with brightly coloured birds. Not just mallards on the ponds, but crayoned masks covering faces of children enjoying the outdoors and warm toasty cafe.

The air was filled with shrieks of laughter and shouts of excitement. The paths were awash with pushchairs and children kitted out in wellies and anoraks.

A coot hidden in the reed beds

This was half-term.  Generally this area is a place of quiet solitude. The odd dog-walker or jogger visible on the perimeter with birdspotters heading out amongst the reed beds towards the nearest hide, their cameras at the ready and tripods balanced over their shoulders.



Run by the RSPB, the shop provides information on birds you are likely to see as well as food and equipment to encourage wildlife into your own garden.  At half-term  they also provide paper and crayons and throughout the year arrange interesting projects for all the family to enjoy.

Judith James is the Artist in Residence 2014 and a selection of her paintings can be seen at the RSPB Newport Wetlands Centre.  She is regularly on site painting and drawing, holding 'open studio' sessions. Later in the year, as her project develops, she will be holding workshops for children and for adults.

For more information on Judith James, use the link below:

www.saa.co.uk/art/judithjames

Visits to the Wetlands are free of charge, but projects do incur a small charge.

Band Together

                          The Jerome Gatehouse Collection Trust, A Military Band Archive

Collage of Jerome and part of his collection

A steelworker from Cwm near Ebbw Vale, Jerome Gatehouse had one huge passion, beside his wife. It was anything and everything to do with military bands, no matter where in the world they were. He started with the aim of obtaining a photograph of every military band in Great Britain. Then, while still in his early thirties, he was forced to give up work so he began his lifelong quest.  This resulted in the largest known collection of military band memorabilia int the world.

More of the collection

Behind the front door of a small terraced house in Newport sits the result of his labours. Over 40,000 items including hundreds of LPs, tapes and videos as well as framed pictures, dress uniforms, helmets, instruments and millions of pieces of paper and journals.

Jerome wrote, but never published, his history of military bands, which lies in files tucked safely away.

The collection has been partly catalogued and a database is being constructed, but what it really needs is a home where it can be exhibited and enjoyed by visitors. At the moment its combined weight is risking the joists of the upper floors of Ann Gatehouse's home.


A new round of Newsletters are planned, the first on the theme of the First World War.

To find out more you can contact the Jerome Gatehouse Collection Trust at:

email:   gatehousecollection@ntlworld.com

www.jeromegatehousecollection.org.uk

The collection contains the histories of no less than 2,000 bands, including those of every British 1st and 2nd Battalion and Staff Bands.

With the current round of cutbacks and redundancies from our armed forces, this collection has even more relevance.  Here they keep the memories and experiences of generations for the generations to come.

Strange Creatures of the Coastal Path

 

 

The rare Newport Dragon enjoying the sea view

The access to the coastal path at Goldcliffe at first glance is not promising.  After driving along countryroads with very little signage you just appear to come to the literal "end of the road." A flight of steps ahead of you takes you to the sea wall and the coastal path.  Cars park on the roadside and on busy summer days the row can extend quite a way down the road.

One person has decided to imrove the facilities. A small shop and garden cafe has been created for the many thirsty walkers who may have forgotten to take their own refreshments. Tables and chairs adorn her garden, along with fairies, toads, dragonflies, butterflies and all sorts of creatures. Service is provided with a friendly smile. Fresh cream scones were on the menu when I last visited. Her first attempt, but excellent!




The even rarer multi-coloured rhinoceros.

The cafe garden is not the only place for strange and unexpected creatures and objects. They appear to abound in this small section of pathway. Has the quality of the sea water something to do with it?

Rarest of all, husband with a giant anchor.

 

 

Tredegar House, Newport, Torfaen

 

Owned by Newport Council, Tredegar House has now been leased for fifty years to the National Trust.  Entry is charged at £7, but I feel it makes excellent value for money compared to previous visits. Many rooms have been furnished, and a plethora of guides are ready to spill the beans on secrets long forgotten.

Rooms are dressed showing varying periods in the life of the house and reflect the changing tastes of the various Lords Tredegar.  The last, being an eccentric, had a menagerie in the garden with a kaymen in his bathroom and, believably, spent all the riches accumulated over the previous years.

The gardens are open to view, and are being improved to an even higher standard than at present. 

The house is built of red brick, which, at the time, was far more expensive and impressive than stonework. Even the stables have a grandeur, so much so that apparently when Prince Charles and Lady Diana visited, their chauffeur stopped outside the stables, believing them to be the house itself.

In the orangery is a table from Cefn Ila Court which was used for XXXX, a game similar to shove-ha'penny.  There would have been cups set along the sides to catch stray discs.  The table has been restored, but still shows the ravages of being stored in a damp cellar for many years.

Fantastic table from 1600's disappears into infinity made from one slice of tree trunk.

 

Volunteers tend the gardens and work throughout the building. It sounds an interesting place to spend your time.

 

 

BARGAIN HUNTing in Newport, South Wales

 

 

Tredegar House, Newport, South Wales was recently passed to the National Trust by the local council and has had a fantastic makeover.  Well worth a visit.

 

The BBC felt it worth a venue for filming part of their Bargain Hunt programmes, daytime series 35.

 

Transmission is planned as follows:

BBC1 at 12:15pm on:

Monday 1st July 2013

Wednesday 17th July

Friday 2nd August

Friday 16th August

(Please check the Radio Times beforehand as times can vary slightly depending on last minute scheduling alterations)

 

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tredegar-house/

 

Newport, South Wales NP10 8YW
01633 815880

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Tredegar+House,+Newport&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=PVvDUe3LAYrH0QXU6oGQBQ&ved=0CFYQsAQ&biw=1360&bih=685#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=MPbYAx7_Zh-RFM%3A%3BGpnC4Tb_nfZycM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fnttreasurehunt.files.wordpress.com%252F2012%252F01%252Fntpl_780240.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fnttreasurehunt.wordpress.com%252Fcategory%252Ftredegar-house%252F%3B1000%3B666

 

 

 

 

Newport, Gwent, South Wales

For those of you who enjoy visiting cities, why not try Newport, Gwent?  Comments made recently by Simon Gibson are quoted below.  Newport has an historic Transporter Bridge across the river Usk.  Vehicles and people are carried high above the high-tide water level to allow shipping to pass unhindered. 

Bellevue and Beechwood Parks are amazing city parks, and Newport Castle, although it can only be viewed from a distance, has a river gateway comparable to that in the Tower of London.  The river mud required manoeuvring by medieval boats at high tide to gain access.

Timbers from a medieval ship could prove a huge attraction for tourists, if the money can be found to complete its restoration.  Found in the river mud whilst digging the foundations of the Riverfront Theatre, a few years ago, this treasure could equal the Mary Rose.  Lets hope the remains are not just sold off for firewood!

Simon Gibson is the head of a Welsh Government business development project for Newport.

He explained recently, "...the location of Newport is unique, being the first stop into Wales from London."

"I don't know a city in Wales where you can get from the major motorway to the city centre within two minutes."

"Newport also enjoys one of the most beautiful hinterlands of any city in Britain, in Monmouthshire, and we don't play that up enough."

"We are the undisputed technology capital of Wales.  We don't play that up anywhere near enough.  The city has key strengths in its capabilities in technology, particularly in things like homeland and cyber-security."

Newport was once a great port moving coal and iron to Cardiff, Bristol and overseas, and importing goods in exchange.  Remains of the old quayside can be seen at low tide close to the Kingsway Centre.

http://www.newportgwent.co.uk/

http://www.newportpast.com/

 

Bridges

Bridges, aren't they beautiful?   Have you ever seen an ugly one?

Bridges reach out over thin air to a destination.   They are a human way of reaching out to make contact.   No matter their size you always want to look at them.   They link islands, span shipping channels, cross raging rivers... and train lines.

When we were children, although there were swings and other stuff nearby, we always played in the stream;  searching out flat stepping stones, mud dams, but if we were lucky enough to find a piece of wood long enough, we would build a bridge.   Even if the pieces weren't long enough, it didn't stop us from trying.   Although there were swings and other stuff nearby, we always played in the stream.

Over the years I think of all the people I have met and wanted to keep in touch with.   We exchanged addresses and even telephone numbers.   But generally, we never quite get around to making contact.   The links we had in common are gone.  I tell myself, "I'll do it this afternoon, maybe tomorrow, on Sunday when calls are free."    How will I start the conversation?   What if they are busy?  What if I wake the baby?   All these 'what if's.'    Now I'm getting older, what if someone's died?

Facebook, Twitter, mobile phone texting and all this modern technology sometimes gets bad press.   They're no different to anything else.  Whenever something becomes popular, there is always someone there to decry it and criticise.   But these technologies are our way of reaching out and making contact with people.   Our way of saying, we are here and want to remain friends.    You can add a comment to their 'thread.'   Send them a message.   If you don't know what to say you can always just 'poke' them.   Reminds me of nodding at someone in the street as you pass by.   No need for words, just a simple acknowledgement.

Facebook et al, are our bridges, our beautiful bridges.   Lets use them, not abuse them.

http://www.newportpast.com/bridges/town_bridge/index.php