24 October 2008
School children in the Caerphilly county borough will take part in a special event next month (Thursday 6th November) to mark the area's links to the Chartist movement.
Pupils from schools in the Blackwood area will gather on the landmark Chartist Bridge in Blackwood town centre, in the shadow of an impressive new sculpture depicting a Chartist protester striding towards Newport.
The 8 metre tall sculpture is situated on a roundabout at the entrance to Chartist Bridge on the Sirhowy Enterprise Way between Oakdale and Blackwood.
At 10:00am on Thursday 6th November, the pupils will join dignitaries to cross the bridge and gather at the foot of the statue. The Mayor, Cllr Anne Collins and the leader of Council, Cllr Lindsay Whittle will welcome guests and say a few words to commemorate the Chartist movement.
Renowned artist Sebastien Boyesen was commissioned by Caerphilly county borough council to create the sculpture, which commemorates the naming of the bridge and the importance of the area's links to the Chartist movement.
The sculpture is made from thousands of stainless steel rings creating a 'mesh' figure that symbolize numerous small parts creating a larger, stronger whole. In essence the fundamental principles of 'Strength in Unity' or Chartism.
The event will mean that the Chartist Bridge will be closed to traffic for and hour and a half (10:00am to 11:30am) on Thursday 6th November.
The event is being held in the week where a series of events commemorating the Chartist Rally are being held around the Gwent area.
- Return to News