One hundred years since the opening of the Great South Lock at the Port of Newport, Associated British Ports has commissioned an exhibition of photographs honouring the men who built it and the part it played in the wars.
The exhibition, at the Newport Museum and Art Gallery, will showcase a unique collection of photos taken over the last century of the port: during construction, the two world wars and some modern images of the port in operation.
An animated film that was made by local children from Pillgwenlly Primary School about the history of the port also features in the exhibition.
The Centenary of the official opening, by HRH Prince Arthur of Connaught in 1914, was celebrated on 14 July with a community celebration and the unveiling of a mosaic at the entrance to the port. ABP has been working with the Pillgwenlly Regeneration Project on a number of community projects, including a community mosaic now on show near the port gates and the animated film being aired at the exhibition.
Chris Green, Assistant Port Manager, South Wales said:
“The exhibition showcases a fantastic part of the history of the Port of Newport and is a fitting culmination of our Centenary year. The truly fascinating images of the building of the port are fitting testament to the exceptional efforts made by those port workers during the construction.
“It is tribute to their efforts that over 100 years later we continue to use the facilities that they created on a daily basis, where we now handle a wide variety of cargo including steel, metals, forest product, coal, aggregates and animal feed, whilst supporting over 3000 local jobs and contributing £186 million annually into the Welsh economy. I hope that people enjoy visiting the exhibition and I would like to thank all those who have assisted in its creation.”
The exhibition is open Tuesday to Saturday from 15 December 2014 until 11 April 2015 and it is a free of charge event. More information here.
Source| ABP
