What is - Friends of the Newport Ship? top

The Association of Friends of the Newport Ship is a registered charity and was formed to disseminate knowledge and information about the Newport Mediaeval Ship and to foster understanding and appreciation of Newport's maritime and industrial heritage. The Association aims to provide a forum for debate, monitor progress on conservation of the vessel and contribute to the promotion of Newport’s rich heritage.

With over 200 members (January 2005) including many members worldwide and a number of archaeology experts, the organisation aims to act as an information exchange for current knowledge and theories about the mediaeval ship and its contribution to the history and development of Newport and South Wales generally. The association aims to be an effective pressure group for the long term preservation of the Newport Ship and has already arranged a number of events and preservation campaigns including:

• Social evenings and events for members including visits to related sites of interest;
• Talks by archaeologists responsible for the excavations and by other speakers;
• The publication of a regular newsletter SOS;
• Campaign to raise awareness of the ship and to support bids for funding;
• Provide information displays and sales stalls at events including the 2004 Newport Eisteddfod;
• Provide training for assistance to the team responsible for conserving the ship;
• Organise and take part in relevant conferences.

FONS exhibition stand at the 2004 Newport Eistedfodd

Past History of the Association top

Following the announcement of a discovery of the timber remains of a mediaeval ship, Newport City Council announced that "…only 5% of the timbers will be preserved" and the vessel was scheduled for destruction despite unprecedented local and international interest.

The plan was to resume building works to enable resumption of the Arts Centre construction project on the 27th. August 2002. Local residents who queued in their thousands to view the excavations were outraged by the suggestion that it may not be recovered and a protest group SOS - Save Our Ship was quickly formed. Volunteers manned a continuous 24 hour vigil at the entrance to the site to draw attention to the issue. The campaign was highly successful and thousands of letters of support flooded in to local council offices and parliamentary representatives.

News coverage led by the local newspaper, the South Wales Argus, quickly developed with features on national television news programmes and articles in many national newspapers and specialist magazines. Within days the Save Our Ship website had been launched and the Council for British Archaeology publicly backed the campaign leading to many letters of protest from experts in the field of archaeology and maritime history.

The ensuing public outcry quickly produced results and with only 3 days to go the Wales National Assembly and Newport Borough Council presented a plan to preserve the ship in a purpose-built display gallery beneath the new Arts Centre.

Following this success a meeting of SOS protestors agreed to form a more permanent organisation to promote interest in the Newport ship. Membership is open to all who support the aims of the Association.

To read the constitution of the Friends of the Newport Ship please click here

Events and news top

2004 National Eisteddfod

The Friends of the Newport Ship participated in the National Eisteddfod - the premier cultural festival of Wales which was held at Newport in August 2004.

Committe members participated in the proclamation ceremony recently held in the Gorsedd stone circle at Newport's Tredegar House and presented an exhibition celebrating the ship and its discovery in the grounds of Tredegar Park.

Photograph: above shows committee members L-R Emma Lewis, Charles Ferris, Sheila Dyke, Sherry Parker (and daughter Grace) and Terry Underwood as the Gorsedd of Bards passes in procession behind. The top right picture shows the ceremonial sword used to declare the proclamation.

To find out more about the National Eisteddfod and view
an album of photographs from the Proclamation Ceremony click here

 

 

Special Eisteddfod Lecture click here

Sailing trip aboard Cabot's ship the Matthew

The Matthew is a replica of the ship that John Cabot sailed across the Atlantic in1497 on his voyage of discovery. He landed in what is now known as Newfoundland and is thought to be the ‘real’ discoverer of America.

Two trips on board the Matthew were arranged in April 2003 for Friends of the Newport Ship.

To view an album of photographs taken on the day click here

Publications top

SOS the Newsletter of the Friends of the ship is mailed free to members. SOS aims to keep members up to date with the latest developments and discoveries of the Newport Mediaeval Ship and information about mediaeval ship construction and Newport's role as a port and centre of international trade.

SOS will keep you informed on its progress and bring you a regular series of articles by experts associated with the project. It is packed with interesting features on the ship, maritime history and information about its construction and theories on the probable reason it was laid up in Newport. A Members page features news of future events and gifts and souvenirs now available from the Friends of the Newport Ship.

Gifts and Souvenirs top

The activities of Friends of the Newport Ship are funded in part by membership fees, donations and through income generated by sales of souvenirs and publications. These are available at Friends events, for more information contact our new address on the home page.

How do I join? top

Membership is open to all who support the aims of the Association and is renewable annually on 23rd August.

• Individual subscription is only £5
• Family subscription £8
  
• Overseas Membership $20 US
  
• Corporate membership is £10