Frustration over delays for medieval ship discovered on banks of Welsh river
There was excitement that one of Wales' top attractions could soon come to fruition but more than two years on the council has so far been unable to see the project through
The ship was found in the banks of the Usk in Newport in 2002 and has undergone careful restoration ever since
(Image: Rob Norman/WalesOnline )
There is frustration over delays to a medieval ship in Wales becoming a premier tourist attraction. The Spanish medieval ship, discovered on the banks of the River Usk in Newport in 2002 during the construction of the city's Riverfront Theatre, remains the largest and most complete section of a 15th-century European vessel to date.
After 20 years of restoration work, in 2023 archaeologists began carefully reassembling the ship, which would have travelled long-distance routes of the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
There was excitement then that one of Wales' top attractions could soon come to fruition, but more than two years on Newport council has so far been unable to see the project through while there are no concrete plans for the ship's base.
While the council has tried to capitalise on interest around the ship by offering medieval ship themed history and craft sessions at the ship's visitor centre at the Estuary Road industrial estate, where some of the ship's timber remains are sited, Tory council opposition leader Matthew Evans told full council this week that the city needed the ship on display as soon as possible.
"We shouldn't be talking about doing long term strategies 20 years later – we just need to get on with it," Cllr Evans said. "Newport needs something to bring people into the city centre."
He proposed seeking support from the Welsh Government or National Lottery's heritage fund for a local project, or finding a third-party operator which could mirror the National Trust's involvement at Tredegar House.
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"There are lots of potential sites – but until you find a site, you can't continue with the plans and the funding," he said.
Friends of Newport Ship's Phil Cox in a climate controlled storeroom with sections from the ship
(Image: Tom Martin/WALES NEWS SERVICE )
Newport council responded by saying it is committed to finding a lasting location for the ship and that expert advisers have been brought on board to plan for its future.
The council said the work by external specialists is almost finished and they will "consider all options for the future ownership and governance of the project" which includes identifying appropriate sites.
But the council ruled out the previous suggestion of displaying the ship in the Riverfront Theatre's lower level as "the space is not suitable for the reassembly and display of the artefact".
The annual cost to manage the ship's timbers, stored at the visitor centre, stands at £100,000, and the council highlighted that budget constraints would impact its ability to develop the restored ship into a permanent exhibit. Never miss a Newport story by subscribing to our newsletter here
"The context of funding to local authorities being cut in real terms over the last decade and a half, and our duty to protect frontline and statutory services, means that we cannot do this alone," a spokesperson for the council explained.
The opposition leader has asked Newport council's cabinet why a permanent home hasn't been identified for the ship
(Image: Friends Of Newport Ship )
"We will need support from partners to take this project forward. Once we have considered the appraisal we will begin discussions with the relevant partners to determine the next steps."
Originating from northern Spain around the mid-15th century, historians believe the trading vessel which likely operated between Britain and the Iberian peninsula was likely hauled into Newport for repair works but met instability before refurbishing could start.
The intriguing story of the ship continues to garner fascination, made evident in 2023 as historian Dan Snow described the return of the last restored pieces to Newport as heralding a "unique" and "exciting" chapter for the city.
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Powys County Times
17 hours ago
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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Eight super simple Middle Eastern recipes from Sunday Brunch chef Sabrina Ghayour
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SERVES 2-4 650g boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces olive oil flatbreads, to serve For the marinade 1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced into half-moons 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 good pinches of saffron threads, ground to a powder using a pestle and mortar, then steeped in 2-3 tbsp boiling water 1 tbsp dried wild oregano 2 tsp ground turmeric 1 heaped tsp pul biber (Turkish chilli flakes) 1 tbsp caster sugar finely grated zest and juice of 2 unwaxed limes 150g thick Greek yogurt sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper 1 For the marinade, put the onion and garlic in a mixing bowl, season very generously with salt and pepper and stir. Add the remaining marinade ingredients and mix well. Add the chicken pieces and a generous drizzle of olive oil then mix well again. 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SERVES 6 1 large aubergine, quartered lengthways and cut into chunks 1cm thick 1 large or 2 small courgettes, quartered lengthways and cut into chunks 1cm thick 1 red pepper, cored, deseeded and cut into strips 1cm wide, then diced 1 yellow pepper, cored, deseeded and diced into 1cm cubes 1 tbsp dried wild oregano olive oil 1 large onion, finely chopped 6 fat garlic cloves, finely chopped 2 tsp cumin seeds 2 tsp ground turmeric 4 tbsp tomato purée 300g basmati rice 50g butter, cut into small cubes 450ml cold water Maldon sea salt flakes and freshly ground black pepper 1 Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line a large baking tray with baking paper. 2 Place the aubergine, courgette and peppers on the lined tray. Add the oregano and a generous amount of salt and pepper and drizzle very generously with olive oil, then using your hands, mix to coat evenly. Spread the vegetables out on the tray and roast for 30 minutes, then remove from the oven and set aside. 3 Place a large saucepan over a medium-high heat (medium if using a gas hob) and drizzle in enough olive oil to coat the base of the pan. Add the onion and garlic and cook until translucent. Add the cumin seeds, turmeric and tomato purée and cook, stirring, for a couple of minutes. If the ingredients start to stick, add a little water. Next, add the rice, butter and a very generous amount of salt and pepper, then stir until the butter melts and coats the rice. Pour in the cold water and stir well, then cover the pan with a lid and cook over a gentle heat (low if using a gas hob) without stirring for 30 minutes. 4 Fluff the rice with a fork, carefully fold in the roasted vegetables and warm them through for a couple of minutes, then serve. PRAWNS WITH COCONUT TURMERIC SAUCE Prawns and seafood in general would be part of my dream feast. 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NOW BUY THE BOOK Our recipes are taken from Persiana Easy by Sabrina Ghayour, with photographs by Kris Kirkham (Mitchell Beazley, £28, published on 14 August). To pre-order a copy for £23.80, go to or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK delivery on orders over £25.
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Free summer scheme returns to schools across Wales
The Food and Fun programme returns for the school holidays, offering children free activities and nutritious meals throughout the summer break. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the scheme, which first began as a pilot in Cardiff before expanding across Wales. Lynne Neagle, Wales' cabinet secretary for education, said: "The 'Food and Fun' School Holiday Enrichment Programme has helped tens of thousands of families over the last decade, providing free nutritious meals and enriching activities across the country. "I am very proud to mark this special anniversary by visiting the very successful and popular Pantside Primary Food and Fun scheme." The programme, now delivered in around 230 schools across all 22 Welsh local authorities, is fully funded by the Welsh Government and coordinated by the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA). More than 14,000 places will be available each day during the holidays, with each scheme offering at least 12 days of support. Since its launch, the scheme has provided more than 800,000 free places for children. Each day includes a healthy breakfast and lunch, along with activities ranging from cookery and sports to music and den building. Schools invite families to sign up during the summer term, and each scheme hosts a weekly family meal to bring communities together. This year, the Welsh Government has allocated more than £5.8 million to the programme, including an additional £1 million in funding. To celebrate the 10-year milestone, Ms Neagle visited Pantside Primary School to take part in the scheme. During her visit, she joined a cooking session where children made fruit kebabs, played a game of cricket, and enjoyed a healthy lunch. Ms Neagle said: "The summer holidays can be a challenging time for families and 'Food and Fun' highlights the important role that schools play in supporting children, their families and the local community. "At the heart of this scheme is the dedicated local authority and education workforce, who have formed fantastic partnerships with a variety of organizations to deliver a diverse range of activities for young people to enjoy."
