BARA

NEU

DIC  PENDERYN & THE MERTHYR RISING, 1831  

Oh Lord, what an injustice!

These were the last words of Dic Penderyn (real name Richard Lewis) who was one of 28 men and women tried on charges connected with the Merthyr Rising. Some of the accused were transported, others were given “hard labour”, but he was accused of wounding a soldier, as well as rioting and was the only person to be executed. Dic Penderyn declared his innocence and evidence indicated that this was the truth. It now seems very clear that an innocent man was executed in public view in Cardiff on the 13th August 1831. The hanging of this man was regarded as being a cruel and barbaric act even at the time. Hangings were not so common in 1831, as transportation had become more popular, in fact around this period only about 40 persons were hung annually in the whole of Britain. The death sentence was a harsh punishment and the soldier did not even identify Dic Penderyn as the man who wounded him. The execution of Dic Penderyn and his quick burial in Aberavon was blatantly a “lesson to the people of Wales”.

The Merthyr Rising in June 1831, when workers took control of the town of Merthyr Tydfil, shocked the British Government. It was the first politicised workers rising in Britain and the first time in world history that a red flag was used as a symbol of revolt. Dic Penderyn was not the leader of a rebellion and at the time Lewis Lewis was thought to be the ring leader. The Merthyr Rising was the reaction of workers to injustice and showed their willingness to fight oppression and cuts in their wages. During this event the people themselves were the heroes. During the Merthyr Rising soldiers fired into the crowd gathered around the Castle Hotel and over 16 rioters were killed and a great many others wounded, later to die of their injuries. An eyewitness described a mother carrying her dead son in her arms. Not one of the soldiers received a bullet wound, the crowd was largely completely unarmed. There was an inquest on only one of the persons killed, John Hughes. The inquest unanimously found that his death was “ justifiable homicide”. Wounding a soldier received the death penalty, but soldiers could kill with no questions asked as long as the riot act had been read!   

THE DIC PENDERYN SOCIETY

ANNUAL  1831  CELEBRATIONS 

For further details contact Mr Vivian Pugh   01685 377883

pughmv@aol.com          Chairman Dic Penderyn Society

Ty Penderyn, 90A  Twynyrodyn Road,  Merthyr  Tydfil CF47 0SD

Contact:

Mr Vivian Pugh, B.A. Hons.,

Ty Penderyn

90a Twynyrodyn Road,

Twynyrodyn

Merthyr Tydfil

Telephone 01685 377883

OR:

Ms. Debbie Bardo.

Telephone: 07879078370

E-Mail: celticdebs@vigin.net

Membership:

£8 which includes free admission to all lectures, walks and the Xmas Social event.

For further details contact Mr Vivian Pugh  Ty Penderyn, 90A  Twynyrodyn Road, Twynyrodyn, Merthyr  Tydfil CF47 0SD

ALL LECTURES AT ZOAR WELSH CENTRE 7:15pm

unless otherwise stated

Mr VIVIAN PUGH TEL 01685 377883

TY PENDERYN

90a, TWYNYRODYN ROAD,

TWYNYRODYN,

MERTHYR TYDFIL.

pughmv@aol.com