New Painting: Final Resting Place

At a simple gathering at the Newport Medieval Ship Centre last Saturday (28 January), artist David Jordan handed over to the Friends of Newport Ship, his new painting of the Newport Medieval Ship being hauled into what turned out to be her final resting place in a side pill (inlet) downstream from Town Pill and Newport’s castle and bridge.

The painting has been created following extensive research and discussion with the project curator and other members of the project’s expert panel, and is probably the most accurate depiction of the event that we can achieve.

The painting will be on display in the Ship Centre for all visitors to see.  Copies will be available for purchase in a range of sizes in due course.

David’s full story of ‘Newport Ship and Me’ will be published in the next edition of the Members’ Newsletter due to be produced shortly.  We will also be publishing a short interview with David on YouTube to coincide with the Newsletter.  Copies of our bi-monthly newsletters are distributed free to all members, and are available for a nominal sum from the Ship Centre for non-members.

The Newport Medieval Ship Centre reopens for public access on Saturday 18 February between 10.30am and 4.00pm (and every Saturday until mid-December).  There will be a new layout, new displays, new visibility into our conservation stores, but the same great welcome from enthusiastic volunteer guides to tell you the stories behind the displays.

We look forward to seeing you when you visit.  For more information on opening days and times, please check our website www.newportship.org

Crosscurrents….. Book Launch

The Friends of Newport Ship and CWTSH invite you to our Book Launch at 2.00pm on Saturday 18 February, at the Newport Medieval Ship Centre.

Inspired by the Newport Medieval Ship, Cwtsh Creative Writers have produced a fascinating collection of tales and poems.  Imagination is stirred as these talented writers take you to eclectic visions from the past.

A treasure trove of fired imaginations, heads got together to fuse a cauldron of creativity. ‘Crosscurrents‘ is the first anthology of Cwtsh Writers who have woven magic through their fingers.  These stories and poems will surprise and delight with their variations on a theme. They bring to life the vibrancy of fifteenth century living in Newport and touch upon mysteries surrounding an enormous ship that found its way here quite by chance.

Copies of the book will be available for sale in the cabin at just £4.50 with profits split between Cwtsh and the Friends of Newport Ship.

Newport Medieval Ship Centre, Unit 20, Estuary Road, Queensway Meadows Ind.Estate, Newport, NP19 4SP.

Ship Aground Painting in Good Company

The paperwork has all been signed, and this fascinating painting is now officially in the hands of the Friends of Newport Ship

The painting by Donald Matthews depicts the SS Brodland which ran aground on Aberavon beach in 1913. Whilst being towed out of Port Talbot in heavy seas the tow rope parted and she was driven ashore. She had been on her way to Punta Arenas in Chile with a cargo of Welsh steam coal. All the crew were rescued by breeches buoy, and the anchor is still on display outside the Aberavon Lifeboat Station.

The painting was purchased for 20 guineas by the Contemporary Art Society of Wales (CASW) in 1957 from an exhibition of the South Wales Group. It was gifted by CASW to BP Llandarcy, unfortunately when that closed the painting found its way into an auction for a private sale so, rather like the Newport Medieval Ship, it had to be rescued and was bought back by CASW!

When members of CASW visited the Newport Medieval Ship in the summer of 2015 they saw our “Ship Aground” pub sign and thought how we might well want more art work on similar themes for the proposed Newport Ship Museum, and that this would make a very good new home for this excellent painting.

Originally loaned to the Friends of Newport Ship by the Contemporary Art Society of Wales in May 2016, now gifted.  During our main opening period (Easter until the end of October), the painting is displayed on the front of our conserved timber store alongside the pub sign. For the winter period, the painting has been taken down and kept safe within the timber store, but clearly visible to visitors.

This Saturday 10 December is the last opportunity to visit the Medieval Ship Centre this year. We will re-open on Saturday 18 February and thereafter every Saturday until December 2017. Friday opening will resume on Good Friday through until the end of October.

Model Building – Progress

When we were our visiting our friends at Albaola in the Basque region of northern Spain earlier in September, our esteemed patron indulged in a large model of the Mataro Votive Ship.  This obviously came in a ‘flat pack’ box which we carefully brought back home with us.

This model is of a medieval vessel that is of similar date the Newport Medieval Ship, having similar lines albeit built for the Mediterranean.  It effectively demonstrates the concepts behind ship design in that age and is among a handful of artworks that accurately depict medieval ships that we can study to get some insight into how they actually appeared.

The original model, probably built circa 1450, was hung as a Votive offering in a chapel in the town of Mataro, near Barcelona , Catalonia, Spain and has a history all of its own.

So who do we – in this case, Charles – know who could do a really good job of assembling our model?

We were recommended to Dave and Gregg Heathfield,  a father and son team from Barry Model Boat Club who meet every Sunday morning to sail on Cold Knapp lake.  They are held in high regard as being the best around in the model building fraternity.  They build models on commission and have a large number in their dining room at their home in Dinas Powis.  Large scale models of tugs and highly detailed large lifeboats seem very popular.  They are also working on a large scale model, maybe 7 ft long of HMS Illustrious which will be powered by an engine taken out of a mobility scooter.

Our Charles got in touch and they’ve said they are delighted to help out The Newport Medieval Ship and will assemble our Mataro Votive in between their larger works.

We will aim to keep readers informed of progress, and when completed, its installation in the Newport Medieval Ship Centre as part of our growing exhibition.

Len Lloyd Donates Collection of Ships in Bottles

Old friend of the Newport Ship, Len Lloyd, now 88 years old, has spent years creating a fabulous collection of Ships in bottles.  When our Newport Medieval Ship was first discovered, Len was asked to create a model which he did – and it has been out on display in the Ship Centre since we moved to our new premises nearly 18 months ago. Prior to that it had been stored away and only brought out on special occasions.Len has been having a tidy up at home, and asked whether he could donate some of his Ships in Bottles to the Friends of Newport Ship.  Many of these have previously displayed in a special exhibition at the Newport Museum & Art Gallery.

FoNS are pleased to accept these and we will display them ‘in rotation’ in our limited display space.

Just a reminder…. FoNS are hosting ‘Art @ The Ship this coming Saturday 14 May, and will be receiving a new original oil painting ‘The Ship Aground’ from the Community Arts Society Wales, and will also be showing a selection of other nautical paintings and prints.

And whilst you have your diary out, check to make sure you are free to come along to our ‘Coleridge in Wales’ event on Saturday 21 May at 7.30pm at the Ship Centre.  It will be a fabulous night of fun, wrapped around the reading of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, with songs, shanties and stories to enliven your evening.  Tickets are just £10 per person, but this includes the prize draw ticket which could win you vouchers for the Celtic Manor, Motorpoint Arena and many other great prizes.  Contact chair@newportship.org or text 07411 149678 to reserve your places.