The Rise and Fall of the Newport Chartist Mural
Today, we’re diving into the fascinating and ultimately tragic story of the Newport Chartist Mural, a significant piece of public art that stirred both civic pride and heated controversy.
The Creation: A Monument to Democracy
The Chartist Mural, created by artist Kenneth Budd, was completed and erected in Newport in 1978 at significant expense. It was located at the entrance to John Frost Square.
This impressive mosaic was 115 feet (35 m) long and 13 feet (4.0 m) high, comprising an astonishing 200,000 pieces of tile and glass. Kenneth Budd dedicated four months to researching the Chartist rebellion, consulting with experts at the Newport Museum and Art Gallery to ensure historical accuracy. The mural itself was created in hundreds of square panels in Kent before being assembled on site in Newport.
The mural served as a powerful visual narrative, depicting the Newport Rising of 4 November 1839. Specifically, it showed:
- The march of the armed Chartist insurrectionists towards Newport
- The Chartists’ marching banners, symbolizing their democratic demands outlined in the Six Points of the People’s Charter
- Their convergence on the Westgate Hotel to protest their demands
- The final tragedy when soldiers opened fire upon the assembled Chartists
The mural was not just a work of art; it was a monument commemorating this pivotal event in British democratic history and was widely considered historically significant..
The Destruction: A Controversial End
Despite its artistic merit and historical importance, the Newport Chartist Mural faced a shocking end in 2013. Newport Council chose to demolish the mural to make way for a new shopping centre, treating it “akin to wallpaper” that would simply go with the wall. The council cited concerns over safety ahead of the demolition of an adjoining building as a reason for needing to take immediate action.
However, the decision sparked a widespread campaign to save the mural.
- In May 2013, the 20th Century Society requested Cadw to list the mural as being of “architectural and historical interest”
- Cadw, however, declined the listing, stating that “The quality of the building to which the mosaic is attached is poor and the underpass itself has no intrinsic design merits. It was also felt that there was no specific association between the location of the mural and the Chartist uprising”
- Petitions and online campaigns were launched in opposition to the planned destruction, and a protest demonstration was arranged
Despite these efforts, contractors proceeded to demolish the mural on 3 October 2013. This swift action, taken without informing councillors in advance, drew severe criticism. A planned public demonstration still took place on 5 October, attended by 200 people, protesting the destruction.
The demolition drew national as well as local condemnation [4]. Rob Williams of The Independent described it as “indicative of the lack of regard for Welsh history and the triumph of the brute stupidity and disregard for the views of their constituents that many in authority have,” and characterised it as a “needless and casual act of cultural vandalism”.
Newport-born actor Michael Sheen published a powerful full-page open letter in a local newspaper, describing the “irony of something that was created to celebrate those who risked much for the good of all, being wiped out without consulting the people themselves, and under the auspices of a Labour-led City Council serving the needs of profit above all else, is both absurd as well as tragic”.
In response to the outcry, Newport council stated that the mural “has served to remind us of Newport’s past, but we must now focus on Newport’s future”. The council’s Chief Executive, Will Godfrey, apologised to councillors for not informing them in advance of the demolition time. On 26 November, the City Council approved a motion expressing “sincere regret to residents of the city of Newport regarding the handling” of the mural’s removal.
Looking to the future, the council has committed to commissioning “an alternative solution to commemorating the Chartist movement” in a more accessible location. A trust is being set up with £50,000 in funding from Newport City Council to commission a new memorial. Michael Sheen was invited to chair a commission on the proposed replacement. and former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr. Rowan Williams, a member of the commission, described the mural’s destruction as “a sad blow for the city” and its self-image, emphasizing that the “Chartist legacy is surely one of the great elements in the pride that people ought to take”.
John A Smith
Apr 14, 2015
A very good article along the lines of what I want to do
David R. Howell, “The Chartist Mural: Destroyed”, Journal of Victorian Culture Online
175th Anniversary of Chartist uprising
Kenneth Budd
Artist, succeeded by his son Oliver
In 1978 at great expense the Chartist Mural created by Kenneth Budd, was erected in Newport
Was there an unveiling ceremony? Who attended? Who conducted it? How was the muraldescribed at its unveiling? Press coverage? Press critique?
In 2013 Newport Council demolished the mural apparently taking the attitude that it was akin to wallpaper and would automatically go with the wall.
Expedient of demolishing the thing to make way for commerce designed to pillage resources away from Newport
There was a campaign to save the mural.
Demolished to make way for shopping centre.
Is the mural a work of art?
Yes
Is the mural a monument?
It commemorated the Newport Rising of 4 November 1839
Is the mural historically significant?
In May 2013, the 20th Century Society asked Cadw to list the mural as of “architectural and historical interest”,[6] but Cadw declined to do so, stating that “The quality of the building to which the mosaic is attached is poor and the underpass itself has no intrinsic design merits. It was also felt that there was no specific association between the location of the mural and the Chartist uprising.”[7][8] Petitions and online campaigns were made in opposition to the planned destruction of the mural, and a protest demonstration was arranged. The council stated that it had to take immediate action because of concerns over safety ahead of the demolition of the adjoining building. Contractors demolished the mural on 3 October 2013.[9][10] The planned public demonstration took place on 5 October, attended by 200 people.[11][12] Local protest against the destruction took many forms, including another of the popular Downfall parodies.[13]
Where is the mural now?
Mural data
Chartist Mural created by Kenneth Budd, and completed in 1978.
115 feet (35 m) long and 13 feet (4.0 m) high
Mosaic comprised 200,000 pieces of tile and glass
At entrance to John Frost Square.
Budd researched the Chartist rebellion for four months in consultation with experts at the Newport Museum and Art Gallery.[3] He then created the mural in hundreds of square panels in Kent which were later assembled on site.[4] The mural showed:
• the march of the armed Chartist insurrectionists towards Newport
• the Chartists’ marching banners for the democratic demands of the Six Points of the People’s Charter
• their convergence on the Westgate Hotel to protest their demands
• the final tragedy when soldiers opened fire upon the assembled Chartists.[3]
Reaction
The demolition of the mural drew national as well as local condemnation, with Rob Williams of The Independent describing it as “indicative of the lack of regard for Welsh history and the triumph of the brute stupidity and disregard for the views of their constituents that many in authority have.”[14] A spokesman for Newport council stated that the mural “has served to remind us of Newport’s past, but we must now focus on Newport’s future.” The council has said that it will commission “an alternative solution to commemorating the Chartist movement”, in a more accessible location.[10] Paul Flynn MP said that “a serious job has to be done to rebuild trust between the people of Newport and its council.”[15] The council’s Chief Executive, Will Godfrey, apologised to councillors for not informing them in advance of when the demolition was to occur, and stated that the process “was not underhand or undemocratic as has been suggested in some parts of the media”.[16]
On 18 October Newport-born actor Michael Sheen published a full-page open letter, in local newspaper the South Wales Argus, in which he described the “irony of something that was created to celebrate those who risked much for the good of all, being wiped out without consulting the people themselves, and under the auspices of a Labour-led City Council serving the needs of profit above all else, is both absurd as well as tragic.”[17] In November Sheen spoke at a conference in Newport to mark the 175th anniversary of the events, and was invited by city council leader Bob Bright to chair a commission on the proposed replacement of the mural.[18]
An editorial in the South Wales Argus on 31 October commented that “there is a lack of transparency and accountability at the top of the council that has now reached a stage where it is damaging Newport’s reputation in the outside world. The timing and manner of the mural demolition was just plain stupid. It resulted in damaging publicity across the media, locally and nationally…”.[19] On 26 November, the City Council approved a motion expressing “sincere regret to residents of the city of Newport regarding the handling” of the mural’s removal.[20]
A trust is to be set up to commission a new memorial with £50,000 of funding provided by Newport City Council.[21]
In March 2014, former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams said that destruction of the Chartist Mural in Newport was “a sad blow for the city”. Williams, who lived in Newport for almost 11 years, is one of three members of the commission established by the city council to find a replacement for the mural. He said “It did seem to be a sad blow to something of Newport’s self image and self confidence.. There was a real need to gather up literally and figuratively what was left and ask the question: how can Newport now celebrate this crucial part of its history? … The Chartist legacy is surely one of the great elements in the pride that people ought to take… I did think the destruction of the mural was a great sadness.”[22]
<iframe src=”//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dramatisation_of_the_trial_of_the_Chartists_at_Shire_Hall,_Monmouth,_including_background_information_1_of_7.ogv?embedplayer=yes” width=”852″ height=”480″ frameborder=”0″ webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>
Chartism lecture by Prof Malcolm Chase
Links
https://sites.google.com/site/chartistnewport/newport_chartist_mural_archive
References[edit]
1. ^ Jump up to: a b Documenting Chartism: The Newport Chartist Mural Documentation Project. Retrieved 8 October 2013
2. Jump up ^ Pearson, Lynn F. (2006), Public Art Since 1950, Shire Publications, p. 75, ISBN 0-7478-0642-X
3. ^ Jump up to: a b “The Newport Chartist Mural: Celebrating Democracy”. Art in Newport. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
4. ^ Jump up to: a b c Nick Dermody, “Newport Chartist mural artwork faces demolition”, BBC News, 13 March 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2013
5. Jump up ^ Natalie Crockett, “Chartist mural to be re-created in library”, South Wales Argus, 22 March 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2013
6. Jump up ^ Nick Dermody, “Newport Chartist mural: Listing bid by 20th Century Society”, BBC News, 31 May 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013
7. Jump up ^ David Deans, “Newport’s Chartist Mural ‘not to be listed’”, South Wales Argus, 17 September 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013
8. Jump up ^ “Attempts to save Newport’s Chartist mural fail”, BBC News, 18 September 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013
9. Jump up ^ “Newport Chartist mural: Protest as demolition takes place”, BBC News, 3 October 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013
10. ^ Jump up to: a b “Anger as Newport council demolish Chartist Mural”, South Wales Argus, 4 October 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013
11. Jump up ^ “Newport mural demolition”, ITV News, 5 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
12. Jump up ^ Sion Morgan, Elena Cresci, “Hundreds protest in Newport over destruction of Chartist mural”, Wales Online, 5 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013
13. Jump up ^ Newport City Council Secret Camera Footage on YouTube
14. Jump up ^ “The destruction of the Newport Chartist Mural is a needless and casual act of cultural vandalism”, The Independent (online), 4 October 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013
15. Jump up ^ “NEWPORT CHARTIST MURAL: ‘No link between demolition and demo’”, South Wales Argus, 8 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013
16. Jump up ^ “Newport council chief ‘sorry’ over mural”, South Wales Argus, 9 October 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2013
17. Jump up ^ Daisy Wyatt (18 October 2013) “Michael Sheen pens open letter condemning destruction of Newport’s Chartist mural”, The Independent. Retrieved 2013-10-18.
18. Jump up ^ South Wales Argus, “Hollywood star Michael Sheen calls for end to political debate to create new Chartist ‘symbol’ in Newport”, 2 November 2013. Retrieved 4 November 2013
19. Jump up ^ Ward, Kevin. “Paranoia and a lack of transparency at the top of Newport council”, South Wales Argus, Newport, 31 October 2013. Retrieved on 10 November 2013.
20. Jump up ^ “Leader Bob Bright leads Newport council in apologising for Chartist Mural debacle”, South Wales Argus, 26 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013
22. Jump up ^ “Dr Rowan Williams: Demolition of Chartist mural ‘sad day’ for Newport (From South Wales Argus)”. Southwalesargus.co.uk. 2014-03-19. Retrieved 2014-03-25.
External links[edit]
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chartist Mural. |
• www.thepeoplescharter.co.uk
• Composite image of the mural
• Cadw statement on assessment for listing
• Mann Williams Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers (September 2013). “Chartist Mural: Options Appraisal for Relocation”.
• Cliveden Conservation: Summary Report on Initial Investigation of Chartist Mural, September 2013
• Newport City Council, “Removal of the Chartist mural – why we had to do it”
• David R. Howell, “The Chartist Mural: Destroyed”, Journal of Victorian Culture Online