Learning Resources for Schools & Adult Groups
Chartism in south Wales represents an important step on the road to democracy in Britain. The aim of the Trails to Trials project is to make the words of the men and women caught up in these events accessible to everyone. We have brought together resources from a number of sources for this purpose.
An introduction for teachers and other learning professionals
These resources are intended for use with pupils at various stages of the curriculum They are suited for teaching humanities subjects, in particular history and geography. They can also be used to explore citizenship and develop literacy and creative skills.
Many of the resources are also suitable for use with further and higher education students. They may also be of interest to adults studying Chartism or local history.
They include:
- 3,400 high resolution images (and transcriptions) of documents gathered by the authorities following the 1839 Newport Uprising. Many were used in the subsequent treason trial.
- Documents, engravings, drawings and paintings relating to Chartism, the uprising and its aftermath.
published by leading Chartist Henry Vincent.
- Information on what how government works today and in Victorian Britain, what Chartism was, who was involved and Chartist activity across south Wales
- Documents, engravings, drawings and publications relating to working and living conditions in industrial south Wales in the 1830s and 1840s.
- Suggested websites for additional information
- Targeted teaching notes and suggested lesson plans for KS2, KS3, ‘A’ level history
- Suggested places to visit and Chartist walking trails across particular areas of Gwent
- Activities to use in class, including:
Leaders and Enemies (illustrated profiles of key players in Uprising)
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- Occupations (illustrated profiles of typical Victorian occupations and whether they had the right to vote)
- Citizenship matrix
They have been produced by a variety of organisations including:
Resources intended for use with pupils at various stages of the curriculum. Many of the resources are also suitable for use with further and higher education students. They may also be of interest to adults studying Chartism or local history.
Chartism: Voices for the Vote

These pages aim to give some context to the documents in our project. All the text in this part of the website is taken from the Shire Hall publication Voices for the Vote; Shire Hall and the story of Chartism in south Wales. Images are from Newport Museum and Art Gallery. The book costs £4.99 and can be obtained from Shire Hall Monmouth, Newport Museum or Gwent Archives. We are extremely grateful for their support in the project.
Chartism and the Charter
What was Chartism?
What was the People's Charter?
The South Wales Context
The cast for the Chartists
Supporting cast for the Chartists
The cast for the establishment
Chartism takes off in south Wales
Liquid inspiration
Female Patriots
Protest in the pews: pulpits and propoganda
A hero imprisoned
Petition and protest
A language of sedition...and a language of suppression

Soldiers and spies
The march
The marchers' routes
Dreadful riot and loss of life at Newport
The dead
Frightful wounds
£100 reward for wanted men
The road to Monmouth
The Special Commission of Grand Jurors
The treason trial
The Jury - a fair trial?
Who's Who
The Trial: The Queen v Frost and others
The trial continues
A lengthy speech
Guilty?
The verdict: their final doom
Monmouth Gaol: Life Inside
Petitions and a wedding present
To Chepstow
Transportation ...and a knighthood
Sensationalising the story
After the trial - family tragedy
Foreign fortunes
Modern democracy starts here
Chartism and you
Revolution or Riot?
Chartist ancestors
Milestones to modern democracy