- 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
Stay in Cordell Country
© Blaenau Gwent CBC
There is so much to do in Cordell Country that a day trip can easily turn into a long weekend - and to help you have a relaxing as well as an inspiring break, there are a range of accommodation providers to suit all needs. Take a look at the places to stay option as you explore the routes, or else look at the places to stay section.
Cordell Festival 2010 - Tonypandy
© RCT CBC
The Festival at Rhondda Heritage Park was a great success with over 1000 people attending over the weekend. This Cordell Festival focused on the story of "This Sweet & Bitter Earth" - where the story of the Tonypandy Riots are brought to life. Characters from the book where on hand throughout the weekend to read extracts and to explain how difficult it was just to live when there was no money available for the family.
Highlights of the weekend included:
-
Music from Male and Female choirs who sang Welsh favourites old and new.
© RCT CBC
- Dawson Smith & the Exiles performed the haunting songs from their Cordell Collection.
- Bus tours around Tonypandy were fully booked - the visitors heard Cordells interpretation of how the protest became riot. For those with more energy there was a walk around the hills overlooking Rhondda Heritage Park.
-
A harpist - who enthralled many of the children attending - a new, budding harpist may have been inspired.
© RCT CBC
-
Opportunities to try out crafts - it is truely amazing how felt sticks together! People also took time out to write what might be a winning entry for the Cordell Mini Saga competition.
© Kim Colebrook
More events are planned to commemorate the Tonypandy Riots throughout the rest of 2010.
New Tonypandy history published!
A groundbreaking history of the Tonypandy Riots is being published by two former Rhondda school teachers following more than 40 years of tireless research.
David Maddox and Gwyn Evans, jointly recognised as local experts on the infamous 1910 event, have finally published their extensive archive of unique images, never-before-seen government papers and interviews with the rioters themselves.
Copies of “The Tonypandy Riots 1910-1911” by David Maddox and Gwyn Evans are available, priced £15.00 plus postage and packing by emailing esis15@aol.com. The book will be officially launched at Rhondda Heritage Park at 6.30pm on Thursday, November 4th. A book signing will also take place at Tonypandy Central Library on Wednesday 10th November at 6pm.
Tonypandy 2010
© RCT CBC
Today (Sunday November 7th) a whole series of events will take place in Tonypandy town centre from 3pm to 8pm. And at 4pm the winners of the Cordell Mini Saga Competition will be announced!
At 3pm there will be the unveiling off the refurbished Lady With The Lamp statue at the De Winton Street Car Park. The iconic image stood in the town for over 60 years, and was paid for by the miners of the local “Scotch” Colliery. It has now been refurbished and is ready for display again thanks to the Council who worked with Rhondda Civic Society, Rhondda Cynon Taf Community Arts and The Civic Trust for Wales to create a community garden where the statue will be situated.
Keep in touch with the plans to remember the Tonypandy Riots of 1910 and the coal mining industry of the Rhondda at Tonypandy 2010.