View Full Version : Merthyr Rising 2006 - celebrate the Red Commune
June 2006 is the 175th anniversary of the Merthyr Rising of 1831, when workers took over the biggest town in Wales (at the time) for 5 days and fought off the militia until massacred. The Red Flag was raised for the first time on the UK mainland as a symbol of workers' resistance.
One of the insurrection's leaders, Dic Penderyn, was hanged outside Cardiff Central Market as a result and another Lewis Lewis (Lewsyn yr Heliwr) was transported to Australia.
Some of us think it would be a good time to organise a week or weekend of political and cultural events for socialists, republicans and other radicals etc - the Red Flag Commune, Merthyr Red Rising (OK, I'm sure you can come up with something better :) ).
Apparently there will be a big tourist push based on "Cordell Country" with a lot of music and entertainment by local councils. There's also meant to be a Dic Penderyn drama being put on by ITV Wales at this time. Why not ride that interest by organising a series of events in the town?
It shouldn't just be a talking shop either - some action linking it to the present-day poverty and deprivation of Merthyr (officially the poorest borough in Wales) would be good.
Nine months to do this if people are up for it...
You know, if Dic Penderyn - or Owain Glyndwr for that matter - had been English, there would have been a ton of soft focus, rebel rousing films about them by now...
You know, if Dic Penderyn - or Owain Glyndwr for that matter - had been English, there would have been a ton of soft focus, rebel rousing films about them by now...
Not sure they do the soft-focus, flattering biopic on reds. Or they do it, then omit the redness (cf. Helen Keller)
You know, if Dic Penderyn - or Owain Glyndwr for that matter - had been English, there would have been a ton of soft focus, rebel rousing films about them by now...
Aye, Im waiting for Mel Gibson to play him...
Keep us informed of whats happening, Im in London but might come down for the celebrations (my Dad will love it).
Gavin Bl
09-09-2005, 13:01
You know, if Dic Penderyn - or Owain Glyndwr for that matter - had been English, there would have been a ton of soft focus, rebel rousing films about them by now...
And the Merthyr Rising would be more than a minor historical footnote for the British left.
'Making of the English Working Class' my arse. :mad:
Can't think of a film about the Tolpuddle Martyrs, or any other 'English' union/socialist radicals. I have a feeling there is such a film about South Wales miners, but I cant remember the name offhand, which only leaves Ken Loach's Days of Hope - and that was a made for TV mini-series.
Gavin Bl
09-09-2005, 13:22
Putting a word in for Gwyn 'Alf' Williams classic - 'The Merthyr Rising'.
Straight outta Dowlais :cool:
June 2006 is the 175th anniversary of the Merthyr Rising of 1831, when workers took over the biggest town in Wales (at the time) for 5 days and fought off the militia until massacred. The Red Flag was raised for the first time on the UK mainland as a symbol of workers' resistance.
One of the insurrection's leaders, Dic Penderyn, was hanged outside Cardiff Central Market as a result and another Lewis Lewis (Lewsyn yr Heliwr) was transported to Australia.
Some of us think it would be a good time to organise a week or weekend of political and cultural events for socialists, republicans and other radicals etc - the Red Flag Commune, Merthyr Red Rising (OK, I'm sure you can come up with something better :) ).
Apparently there will be a big tourist push based on "Cordell Country" with a lot of music and entertainment by local councils. There's also meant to be a Dic Penderyn drama being put on by ITV Wales at this time. Why not ride that interest by organising a series of events in the town?
It shouldn't just be a talking shop either - some action linking it to the present-day poverty and deprivation of Merthyr (officially the poorest borough in Wales) would be good.
Nine months to do this if people are up for it...
PM me when you have formulated your thoughts and I will put you in touch with a few people I know up that neck of the woods who may wish to lend a hand- maybe people you know already but I would not post names on message board.
davesgcr
09-09-2005, 17:31
I suppose some of the Alexander Cordell novels could be used as a base for the "edgy" films of the 19thC working class - bit too florid some of them let alone the title "Rape of the Fair Country"....
I suppose some of the Alexander Cordell novels could be used as a base for the "edgy" films of the 19thC working class - bit too florid some of them let alone the title "Rape of the Fair Country"....
And indeed Karl Francis telling of the the daughters of Rebecca
Ground Elder
09-09-2005, 19:01
Can't think of a film about the Tolpuddle Martyrs Comrades (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092772/)
aarrgghhh!! good point, well made, I'd forgotten about that. General point still stands I think tho - there are precious few films about working-class militancy from any part if the UK, tho Wales is probably even worse served than the rest of the country.
davesgcr
09-09-2005, 21:01
Films about the Rebecca Riots (men dressed as women) - might appeal to opponents of Toll Roads and those with certain interests.....
A reach seam of material here - the 1904 Taff Vale strike - the 1912 Troubles in Llanelli and 1910 Tonypandy. The Ammanford riots of 1925.
I recall a play years ago on the box about the Cronish clay workers trike and the Met Police sorting them out with trunchons etc - much the same happened in Sth Wales.Precious little in the film media .....
I recall a play years ago on the box about the Cronish clay workers trike and the Met Police sorting them out with trunchons etc - much the same happened in Sth Wales.Precious little in the film media .....
hmm, i think i saw a production of that at the Crucible a few years ago.
Ground Elder
09-09-2005, 21:06
I recall a play years ago on the box about the Cronish clay workers trike and the Met Police sorting them out with trunchons etcStocker's Copper (http://www.hermit.org/Blakes7/whoswho/other_role/reviews/Stocker.html)
Was there ever an episode of the Dragon Has Two Tongues that covered Merthyr Rising?
davesgcr
10-09-2005, 15:58
Re "Stockers Copper" - thanks - didnt realise it was as far back as 1972 ! (or it was the Welsh Police in Cornwall)....despite the general naffness of the era there were some good plays on TV in "Country Matters" and so on.Worth a repeat I would have though ....
lewislewis
17-09-2005, 13:15
A glorious and tragic event. The workers militias fought off the British Army succesfully until overwhelmed. It must be noted that Dic Penderyn was not a leader of the insurrection but was only an ordinary man, and was hanged as an 'example'.
The point's been made by others that Welsh socialists need to reclaim the revolutionary tradition of the Merthyr Rising from the "poor old Dic" brigade, who will hold pious commemorations that forget that the same workers' struggles are ongoing today.
This is more about Lewsyn yr Heliwr plotting the revolt (for which he was transported to Australia) than Dic Penderyn's miscarriage of justice, wrong though that was.
That's what Rising 06 should be about. Interestingly, the HTV film of Dic Penderyn apparently takes that approach - emphasising the militants not the martyr.
Raising the Red Flag as the workers' symbol of struggle - as they did in Merthyr for the first time - should be our priority today.
lewislewis
19-09-2005, 21:38
definitely. It wasn't a Marxist flag though. Nor was it exclusively working-class.
it wasn't Marxist!
that's shocking. especially as Marx was 13 at the time of the rising.
Not exclusively working class - er, where do you get that from? Back in 1831 the class divide was pretty clear... filthy rich capitalists in Cyfarthfa castle, wage slaves in their shanty towns and slums with a few shopkeepers, under-managers, teachers and ministers making up the emerging middle class. Merthyr was a workers' rising and the red flag was a symbol of that rebellion.
As for Marx, he wrote about the Merthyr Rising in passing but I'd recommend Gwyn Alf Williams for a more in-depth analysis ;)
lewislewis
20-09-2005, 14:49
it wasn't Marxist!
that's shocking. especially as Marx was 13 at the time of the rising.
yes precisely, lol.
Nic, the leader of the Rising wasn't working class, so it wasn't an exclusively working class uprising.
Was there ever an episode of the Dragon Has Two Tongues that covered Merthyr Rising?
Just a quick heads up for anybody that missed it - ITV Wales episode of "Welsh Gold" on 22/10/8 covered the "Dragon has Two Tongues", including a fair chunk of the Merthyr uprising episode.
Wonderful watching these 2 old fellas sparring with each other - pity ITV Wales couldn't repeat the whole series again.
Pull up a comfy chair, pour yourself a pint and enjoy: http://www.itvlocal.com/wales/50/?player=WAL_50_15&void=249597
Gavin Bl
25-10-2008, 08:10
excellent rhod, thanks alot for that.
cheers
Gav
* gets ready to cry into beer about Gwyn Alf *
butchersapron
25-10-2008, 09:33
Thanks for that rhod.
Just a quick heads up for anybody that missed it - ITV Wales episode of "Welsh Gold" on 22/10/8 covered the "Dragon has Two Tongues", including a fair chunk of the Merthyr uprising episode.
Wonderful watching these 2 old fellas sparring with each other - pity ITV Wales couldn't repeat the whole series again.
Pull up a comfy chair, pour yourself a pint and enjoy: http://www.itvlocal.com/wales/50/?player=WAL_50_15&void=249597
Cheers, it would be great if they could reshow the whole series (I met Mr Williams as a kid, really nice old fella).
Gavin Bl
07-11-2008, 20:54
Just watched it properly, fantastic stuff - like the presenter says at the end, who would make that now, just letting these two old guys argue away at length.
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