“ TREDEGAR HOUSE :WEEKEND PARTIES, FROLICS AND FUN” : EVAN MORGAN’S HOUSE GUESTS 1934-1938

“ TREDEGAR HOUSE :WEEKEND PARTIES, FROLICS AND FUN” :  EVAN MORGAN’S HOUSE GUESTS 1934-1938

 From William Cross, FSA Scot

In the years 1934 - 1949 Evan Morgan Viscount Tredegar held court at his Welsh mansion, Tredegar House, an impressive 17th century red brick building set in 100 acres of parkland near Newport. Invitations to Evan's country house weekends were highly prized. But how many house guests passed through the gates of Tredegar House in the Evan years? Who actually stayed there and when? What of the legends of Evan's séances, outrageous parlour game of charades, riotous drinking and orgies to compare with Caligula's Rome? What is the truth, and what are the myths about these crazy weekends? In this book William Cross, author of previous Morgan books reveals the identity of the scores of people who were Evan's guests. Here are the good, bad and the downright disgraceful whom Evan brought together under one roof. The historical icons of the era, male prostitutes, spivs, spies, and traitors as well as a sizable collection of stage and literary figures, politicians, Catholic luminaries and Evan's relatives including his Royal cousins. Evan was a generous host, an excessive party giver, a man whose wealth in theory could support his foibles for pleasure seeking, for indulging in a complex homosexual life style, having footmen wear powdered wigs, and running a large zoo in the Estate grounds comprising wild and exotic birds and animals. But beneath the surface of fun, folly and farce it was a dynasty in decay, the Morgan coffers were crumbling fast under the burden of death duties, heavy taxation and the changing attitude in Society to service and employment on the landed estates. Evan was also a sick man crippled with poor health, moreover he ploughed a dangerous furrow especially during the war years and was subject to surveillance from on high.”

Essential reading for those interested in Newport’s most famous family and their history  and those who want to know the truth about Evan’s hospitality and who he invited to stay under his 500 year old roof during his early years as the lord of the Manor.

The book is 150 pages long, over 55,000 words with over 400 End Notes. The main text  contains  over  100 images. There is also a  directory of over 300 guests whom Evan entertained, with biographical details, and dates when they visited Tredegar House,  some entries have photographs ”. Enquiries William Cross 58 Sutton Newport, Newport, NP 19 7JF  e-mail  williecross@aol.com

“Evan Morgan, Lord Tredegar's House Guests 1934-1938. “  Compiled by  William Cross. ISBN 9781905914531.  ( 2019) Copies of the book can be obtained direct from the Author.  Also on Amazon/ e-bay. The book will shortly revert to Print on Demand

https://lord-carnarvon.blogspot.com/2019/09/tredegar-house-weekend-parties-frolics.html

William Cross, FSA Scot is the author /co-author of several books on the Morgans of Tredegar House, Newport

An illustrated  talk is available from Will Cross about the book

Myths About The Morgans of Tredegar House, Newport : Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

NEW BOOK ON TREDEGAR HOUSE

“MYTHS ABOUT THE MORGANS OF TREDEGAR HOUSE

BUSTING THE HISTORY FRAUDSTERS”

FROM  NEWPORT HISTORIAN :  WILLIAM CROSS

·        A new book about The Morgans of Tredegar House will be published on 17 June 2018.

·        The book comes from Newport writer William Cross, author of seven other books featuring members of the Morgan family.

·        Promotional and review copies are now available from the Author. See contact details, below.

·        The book has been written because of the Author’s  concern  over   fake  news,  myths,  and  bad   history  about  the Morgans  in  the  public  domain.

·        The launch date coincides with the centenary of the consecration of the Morgan Chapel at St Basil’s Church, Bassaleg, on 17 June 1918. 

Highlights of the Book:

Among the myths about the Morgans of Tredegar House is that they are descended from the Welsh Princes. Some also claim they have a family link to the notorious Captain Henry Morgan, the blood thirsty pirate of the Caribbean. Whilst at least one Lord Tredegar is dubbed ‘Cardinal Morgan’, the Pope’s right hand man in Wales’. Such myths are often romantic notions substituted for fact.  Others are inventions. So what is the truth?

Essential reading for those interested in Newport’s most famous family and their history  and offers  sourced material relating to the Morgans of Tredegar House.

William Cross adds: “In recent years standards of integrity have fallen.  For instance Tredegar House’s website and job advertisements  have carried unworthy aspersions upon one Lady Tredegar’s hobby of making bird’s nests, and pitched  inaccurate  claims  of Godfrey Morgan’s famous war horse “Sir Briggs” being knighted and buried standing upright. Even in recent weeks Tredegar House has been described as the ancestral home of the pirate Captain Henry Morgan of  rum fame.”

There are plenty of wonderful, established and true stories about the Morgans and their collaterals without adorning the tales told to the visitors with myths, inaccuracies and fake stories.

Cross adds “ The book is 160 pages long, over 70,000 words with over 400 End Notes and contains  over  100 images, with several unique   pictures of  members of the Morgan family that have never been seen before”.

* Further Enquiries about the book etc please contact

William Cross

58 Sutton Newport, Newport, NP 19 7JF

Telephone: 01633 779731

FOR EDITORS

“Myths About The Morgans of Tredegar House, Newport. Busting the History Fraudsters” by William Cross. Book Midden Publishing  ( 2018) ISBN 13 9781905914425 : Release date:  17 June 2018.

Lady Katharine Carnegie, Viscountess Tredegar appears on the front cover,  as painted by the Welsh artist Augustus John, with permission to use from David Carnegie, His Grace, the Duke of Fife, who owns the portrait.

Copies of the book at a discounted rate  can be obtained direct from the Author ( until 16 June) at £10.00 including UK post and packing. Higher priced thereafter and also  on Amazon/ e-bay, currently £15.00.

Once the current stock is sold the book will revert to print on demand.

A PDF copy of the Introduction “FAKE NEWS” and a Contents Summary may be requested from the Author ( gratis).

 

On 17 June 1918 the Bishop of Llandaff consecrated a memorial chapel at St Basil’s Church,  Bassaleg,  to the memory of  Godfrey Morgan, Viscount Tredegar and his brother Colonel Hon. Freddie Morgan, commissioned by  Courtenay Morgan, 3^rd Lord Tredegar. During 1917 the bodies of the past members of the Morgan family were removed from the Vault inside St Basil’s  and interred in earth in the Churchyard.

Enquiries please e-mail  williecross@aol.com

6 June 2018

ENDS