Monmouthshire County Council is to give history buffs the opportunity to relive events of 170 years ago when Chartists uprisings across South Wales heralded the beginnings of our modern democracy. The Men they couldn’t Hang coach tour, running on 6th August, 3rd September and 1st October, starts and returns to Monmouth’s Shire Hall taking in many of the sites associated with the Chartist movement.
These include Shire Hall itself, Blaenafon Iron Works and World Heritage Centre, Stack Square worker’s cottages (as seen in the TV series Coalhouse) The Welsh Oak public house in Risca, St Woolos Cathedral, Newport, Stow Hill and the Westgate Hotel, Newport.
It was at the Westgate Hotel that the initial uprising led by John Frost, William Jones & Zephaniah Williams ended in bloodshed but it laid the foundations for the way we elect our representatives today. The Chartists demanded a vote for every man over 21, a secret ballot, no property qualification, payment for MPs, equal constituencies and annual parliaments. All but the final demand have been achieved plus all over 18 year olds (including women!) now have the right to vote.
Frost and his fellow defendants were tried for High Treason at Shire Hall and sentenced to be hung, drawn and quartered, but a national outcry ensured that their lives were spared. Instead they were transported to Tasmania.
Tickets are £10 for adults and £6 for children.
For further information or to book a place contact Karin Molson on 01600 775259 or email [email protected].
