Welsh Journals

The National Eisteddfod of Wales at Newport (1897) and Welsh Cultural Life in Gwent J. Gwynfor Jones Judging by all the available evidence the town of Newport enthusiastically welcomed the National Eisteddfod of Wales during the first week of August 1897. It was, in many ways, a dramatic year. The South African War had begun, England was becoming diplomatically more isolated on the continent, and important changes had occurred in the political life of the country. The Irish problem was again occupying the minds of members of parliament and, in a more placid atmosphere, the ageing Queen Victoria celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of her reign. To Welsh people keenly interested in the cultural heritage and antiquities of their nation, however, the annual festival or Eisteddfod-which originally means a sitting or assembly of poets and musicians with its roots extending far back into the Middle Ages-was the focus of Welsh public life in the sweltering weather in mid-summer of that year. It had emerged in 1860 as a national festival held alternatively in north and south Wales following the endeavours of the London-based Gwyneddigion Society to reform it. The first National event of this kind was held at Aberdare in 1861, and after a lapse of a dozen years or so after 1868, a new society was founded in 1880 called 'The Society of the National Eisteddfod', and the tradition of holding the event ton an annual basis was revived, and has continued down to the present day except for the years 1914 and 1940. During the first week of August 1897, however, it appears that all eyes among the Welsh-speaking intelligentsia and other sections of the cultural scene were upon the town of Newport. To them nothing in the world counted for more since they all looked forward eagerly to spending five days of enjoyment at the National. The prospects were good in spite of unfounded rumours that the monoglot English-speaking inhabitants of Newport, which constituted the vast majority of the population, were indifferent if not ostensibly opposed to welcoming the Eisteddfod to the town. Officials of the committees formed to organise the event, however, were totally confident that all would be well and their enthusiastic appeal for support among the Welsh-speaking community in the town, judging by all accounts, appears to have been a resounding success.