White Castle Pageant

Pageant type

Jump to Summary

Performances

Place: White Castle (Newport/Casnewydd) (Newport/Casnewydd, Monmouthshire, Wales)

Year: 1911

Indoors/outdoors: Outdoors

Number of performances: 1

Notes

10 June 1911`

Name of pageant master and other named staff

  • Pageant Master: De Ferrars, D'Arcy
  • Historian: Mr T.G. James
  • Artist Designers of Dresses: Miss Moore and Madame Cred
  • Mistress of the Dances: Miss Metcalfe
  • Master of the Horse: Sergt.-Major Whitehead
  • Captain of the Archers: Colour-Sergt Butt
  • Stage Managers: Mr A. Scott and Mr Ed. Pritchard
  • Organising secretaries: The Misses Jackson (Brynderi)
  • Episode 1 organised by: Mr Waters, Cross Ash
  • Episode 2 organised by: the Rev. F. Austin, Penrhos
  • Episode 3 organised by: Mr William Jones, Great Llyvos
  • Episode 4 organised by: Mr E. Pritchard, Nantyderi
  • Episode 5 organised by: Mr Ed and Miss M. Pritchard, Nantyderi
  • Episode 6 organised by: Misses Mather-Jackson, Llantilio Court, and Miss Johnson, Treadam, and Mrs Hargreaves, Cross Ash
  • Episode 8: organised by Mr and Mrs Ascott, and Miss Agatha Mather-Jackson, Llantilio

Names of executive committee or equivalent

General Committee

  • Chairman of Committee: Mr S.G. Johnson
  • Miss Mather-Jackson
  • Miss Osman
  • Mr Fisher
  • Mr C. Watkins
  • Mr C. Jones
  • Mr R. Penn
  • Mr A. Davies
  • Mr J. Stephens
  • Mr Henry Mather-Jackson
  • Mr W. Cross
  • Mr E. Price

Finance Committee

  • John Vaugh
  • Warren Davies
  • E. Jones
  • E. Pritchard

Names of script-writer(s) and other credited author(s)

Names of composers

  • Schubert, Franz
  • Wagner, Richard
  • Elgar, Edward

Numbers of performers

Performed by the Newport Horticultural Society

Financial information

n/a

Object of any funds raised

n/a

Linked occasion

n/a

Audience information

  • Grandstand: Not Known
  • Grandstand capacity: n/a
  • Total audience: n/a

Prices of admission and seats: highest–lowest

n/a

Associated events

Part of a Horticultural Show

Pageant outline

Introductory

Pre-historic Dance of the Fairies, Sprites and Gnomes said to have been imprisoned in the Old Oak Tree at Newcastle, and released by its fall. 

Episode I – Caradoc

Caradoc was the son of Cynfelin, the over-king of Southern Britain. When the Romans came to Britain he was the great leader of the patriots, who determined at all costs to defend their country. He was cruelly betrayed by Cartismandua, Queen of the Brigantes, and ultimately captured and conveyed to Rome—where he was granted his life, as long as he stayed within Rome. The episode shows Rhys, King of the Silures, talking first to a scout, and then to his Queen. Caradoc then arrives, led by a scout, and is received with great joy. Caradoc relates the latest battle news, and requests more men—which Rhys gladly gives. An archdruid cries ‘Is there peace? (A oes heddwch?)’ to which all the men cry ‘Rhyfel (War)’. Caradoc declares ‘War to the death’ and leads the men off. Romans enter and are vanquished.

Recitation—Caradoc’s speech before the Emperor Claudius, followed by ‘Morva Rhuddlan’, a poem eulogising and mourning Caradoc. 

Episode 2 – Bishop Teilo and King Iddon – C. 556 A.D.

In the time of the Saxons raids, King Iddon came to Llantilio Crosenny and met Ynyr, Prince of the District, and St Teilo, Bishop of Llandaff. St Teilo prayed on behalf of the King—and his prayer was answered, with Iddon putting the enemy to flight. The scene shows Iddon and Ynyr talking, declaring their belief that they will kill the murdering Saxons. Bishop Teilo is instructed to pray, which he does; King Iddon returns, declaring Victory, and stating his intention to give land to the Bishop of Llandaff, at the site where the prayers were offered.

Episode 3 – Sir Gwyn ap Gwaithvoed – C. 1097.

Sir Gwyn arrives from Caeredigion (Cardigan) on horseback, accompanied by Prince Aeddan and Prince Bach, having heard that one of the Norman Barons had taken White Castle. He appeals to King William Rufus for permission to fight the Frenchman with the sword in a closed chamber in the castle. Permission is granted. Sir Gwyn kills the Frenchman and regains the Castle. The scene begins with two allegorical figures, History and Fairy Legend, discussing the seizing of the castle and Sir Gwyn’s challenge. The actual dialogue between Gwyn, Rufus, and the Frenchman then takes place. The sound of the fight is heard but not seen, before Gwyn emerges victorious. The castle is granted to Gwyn and, from henceforth in memory of the fight, renamed as Castell Gwyn (White Castle). 

Episode 4

Interlude I – Henry II sends to White Castle for Troops

Hard pressed and fearful as to future events, the King sends from Shrewsbury to White Castle for soldiers. The Governor reads the message, and instructs his Captain of Archers to make ready inspection, and to ‘Prove yourselves the most valiant of Gwentians’. A song, ‘White Castle March’, is performed, describing the noble spirit of the Celts and men of White Castle. 

Interlude II – Procession of Celebrated Persons Connected with White Castle, 1150-1400

Geoffrey of Monmouth; William de Braose; King John; Llewellyn ap Iorwerth, Prince of North Wales; Princess Margaret and her two sons; Hubert de Burgh; King Edward I; King Edward III; Edmund Crouchback, Earl of Lancaster, with his wife, Blanche of Artois; John of Gaunt, with his wife, Blanch of Lancaster; Isobel of Beauchamp; Mary, daughter of Earl of Hereford; Maud, daughter of Sir P. Chatworth. A recitation by E. Vaughan Owen composed for the pageant is then given, describing the characters in the procession and their reasons for fame, and in turn their importance to the castle. 

Episode 5 – Owen Glyndwr, 1400.

In the year 1400, Glyndwr resented some wrong which had been perpetrated upon him by his old enemy, Lord Grey of Ruthin. The affair assumed national importance, and the people of Wales made the cause of Owen Glyndwr their own. Glyndwr forced his way into Herefordshire. In 1402 Glyndwr entered Gwent, and was so successful that the French King concluded a treaty with him as Owen, Prince of Wales. The scene portrays Glyndwr at Court, receiving the support and blessing of all assembled. He declares ‘Shake out the banner of Wales, the old war flag of the Cymry’ and ‘God our leader, Liberty our goal!’ 

Episode 6

Interlude I – David Gam and the Pavane, 1415

Sir David Gam lived at the Moat, Llantilio; he distinguished himself at the Battle of Agincourt, and gave his life for the King. As he died, he was knighted on the battlefield. The scene portrays Gam saying goodbye, on leaving for war, to his wife and children, who prophesise that he will do something great and bring undying fame to the family.

Interlude II

[It is unclear but presumed that this is the dance of a Pavane]

Interlude III – Henry V, 1421

Henry’s memorable birth gives imperishable renown to the town. The scene shows Henry wearing a leek for, as he says, ‘a memorable honour, for I am Welsh you know, good countrymen.’ His Lord in Waiting agrees—and reminds the King of the goodness of Sir David Gam. Henry replies, ‘Aye! And what was the number of our English dead? Edward, the Duke of York, the earl of Suffolk, Sir Richard Kettle, David Gam, Esquire. None else of name, and of all our men but five and twenty’. 

Interlude IV – The Gipsies and Village Revels, 1421

A gipsy gives a speech to Queen Katherine, prophesising a happy but short reign, and then another suitor, and glorious descendants. Other revels then take place, before the patriotic ‘The Land of Our Fathers’ is performed by Welsh Children. 

Interlude V – ‘Dargazon’

Dance of Welsh Children

Episode 7 – The Quintain

[There is no description, but this is presumably a bout of jousting]

Episode 8

Interlude I – The Powells of Llantilio Crosseny, 1654

Walter Powell is shown at his house, recalling his life. His lawyer enters with his cousin, James Powell, who declares ‘Before all these witnesses I give these lands, granted to me by Humphrey Phillips, to endow a free school to all time for this parish. In witness whereof I now put my hand and seal. Hither, kind friends, and tiness the same’. Each signs the deed. 

[unlabelled, but presumably Interlude II] – The Schoolmasters

Four schoolmasters, pass through in procession, as children dance to music. 

Episode 9

Morris Dances are performed. 

Finale

All characters enter, and sing Land of Hope and Glory and the chorus from Pomp and Circumstance. 

Key historical figures mentioned

  • Caratacus [Caractacus] (fl. AD 40–51) king in Britain
  • Teilo [St Teilo, Eliau, Eliud] (supp. fl. c.550) holy man and supposed bishop
  • William II [known as William Rufus] (c.1060–1100) king of England
  • Monmouth, Geoffrey of [Galfridus Arturus] (d. 1154/5) bishop of St Asaph and historian
  • Briouze [Braose], William (III) de (d. 1211) magnate
  • John (1167–1216) king of England, and lord of Ireland, duke of Normandy and of Aquitaine, and count of Anjou
  • Burgh, Hubert de, earl of Kent (c.1170–1243) justiciar
  • Edward I (1239–1307) king of England and lord of Ireland, and duke of Aquitaine
  • Edward III (1312–1377) king of England and lord of Ireland, and duke of Aquitaine
  • Edmund [called Edmund Crouchback] first earl of Lancaster and first earl of Leicester (1245–1296), prince
  • John [John of Gaunt], duke of Aquitaine and duke of Lancaster, styled king of Castile and León (1340–1399) prince and steward of England
  • Blanche of Lancaster (1346?–1368)
  • Glyn Dŵr [Glyndŵr], Owain [Owain ap Gruffudd Fychan, Owen Glendower] (c.1359–c.1416) rebel leader in Wales
  • Dafydd [David] Gam (d. 1415) warrior
  • Henry V (1386–1422) king of England and lord of Ireland, and duke of Aquitaine
  • Catherine [Catherine of Valois] (1401–1437) queen of England, consort of Henry V

Musical production

  • Interlude – Schubert’s Rosamund Ballet
  • Episode I – Recitation and ‘The Wail of Wales”
  • Episode II – Gregorian Chant
  • Episode III – March from Tannhauser
  • Episode IV – The March of the Men of Harlech
  • Episode V – Old Song of Agincourt
  • Episode V – The Pavane
  • Episode V – the Land of Our Fathers
  • Land of Hope and Glory, Elgar
  • God Save the King

Newspaper coverage of pageant

Monmouthshire Beacon

Book of words

Book of the White Castle Pageant. Newport, 1911. [Price 3d]

Other primary published materials

n/a

References in secondary literature

n/a

Archival holdings connected to pageant

  • Copy of Book of Words in National Library of Wales, Reference J 3/1

Sources used in preparation of pageant

n/a

Summary

There is unfortunately little information about this interesting early, and sizeable, Welsh pageant beyond the book of words, although there may well be significant press coverage in local Newport newspapers of the time. However, from the book of words it is clear that this pageant, in common with other Welsh pageants of the early twentieth century, such as the great National Pageant of Wales (1909), was a great patriotic celebration. A great deal of attention is given to noted Welsh heroes, including Caradoc (Caractacus) and Owen Glyndwr. The latter, indeed, was a staple of Welsh historical pageantry, being presented as a great champion of Welsh identity, and of resistance to oppression by outside forces. Of course, the ineluctable historical fact for Welsh pageanteers (and nationalists) was that the country had indeed been conquered by the English, and at an early date: there had been no union of crowns as in the Anglo-Scottish case. One response to this was to emphasize the association between Wales and the British monarchy, in particular the Tudor dynasty—the Tudors being of Welsh descent. This approach was followed here, with Henry V acknowledging the valour and sacrifice of Welsh warriors on the field of Agincourt and declaring himself ‘Welsh, you know’, while wearing a leek to ram home his point. The Welsh identity celebrated here was thus very much compatible with a wider Britishness, the point being that national diversity could be co-opted to serve the ends of unity and unionism: episode IV begins with Henry II drawing on ‘Celtic’ valour to assist him in his hour of need. This was an expression of what, writing of nineteenth-century Scotland, Graeme Morton has called ‘unionist nationalism’.1 But it was much in evidence in Wales too, in events such as the Newport pageant and—to give another example from 1911—the Investiture of the Prince of Wales, another occasion at which a distinctive Welshness was brought into harmony with the British nation-state.2

Footnotes

1. ^ Graeme Morton, Unionist-Nationalism: Governing Urban Scotland, 1830-1860 (East Linton, 1999).
2. ^ J.S. Ellis, “Reconciling the Celt: British national identity, empire, and the 1911 investiture of the Prince of Wales” Journal of British Studies (1998) 391-418.

How to cite this entry

Angela Bartie, Linda Fleming, Mark Freeman, Tom Hulme, Alex Hutton, Paul Readman, ‘White Castle Pageant’, The Redress of the Past, http://www.historicalpageants.ac.uk/pageants/1499/