- Cordell Festival 2010 - Tonypandy
- Cordell Festival 2009 - Blaenavon
- Cordell Festival 2008 - Goytre Wharf
- Cordell Festival 2007 - Tredegar
- Cordell Festival 2006 - Llancaiach Fawr
- Cordell Festival 2005 - Neath
Were you there??
© Torfaen CBC
If you have attended any of the Cordell Events, or spent time exploring Cordell Country, then why not share your pictures and stories. Just send them to the Cordell Country team and we'll put them up on this website. blaenavon.tic@torfaen.gov.uk
Cordell Festival 2009 - Blaenavon
In 2009 the Cordell Festival took place in and around Blaenavon Ironworks - one of the sites that inspired Cordell to write his best seller "Rape of the Fair Country" over 50 years ago.
© Kim Colebrook
Staged over the 12/13 September, the weather was brilliant, and a crowd turned out to be part of this annual event.
Throughout the two days, highlights included:
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Disputes between the 41st Regiment of Foot soldiers and the Chartist characters who were determined to ensure that everybody appreciates their campaign to secure the vote for all men.
© Kim Colebrook
- Traditional crafts such as welshcake making, blacksmithing and rope making.
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Dawson Smith and the Exciles performed their Cordell inspired songs against the imposing backdrop of the Ironworks furnaces.
© Kim Colebrook
- Tours around the town and across the countryside that inspired Cordell.
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Queues formed as people waited to meet "The Coal House" family, who were back in residence in Stack Square.
© Kim Colebrook
- Regular tours of the Ironworks site bought the remains that had lain hidden for generations back to life, just as Cordell has seen them.
© Kim Colebrook
The now traditional highlight of the event was Roy Noble announcing and reading the winning entry for the Cordell Literary Competition - this year the winner was Patricia Davies, from Neath with her story "The Ramble through Cordell Country". The runners up were Diana Adams from Pontypool with "Passing Time" and Frances Green from Monmouth with "Echoes of Pwll-du".
Cordell Festival 2010
© RCT CBC
The 2010 event will take place at Rhondda Heritage Park, Porth, and it will be part of the 100th anniversary commemoration of the Tonypandy Riots - when "locked out" miners clashed with police in the town. Find out more about the events leading up to this at the Rhondda Cynon Taff site.