“ 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

Notorious House Parties at Tredegar House: 1934-1938

Tredegar House : Weekend Parties, Frolics and Fun

 Evan Morgan, Lord Tredegar's

House Guests  1934-1938 

A NEW BOOK FROM WILLIAM CROSS

In its heyday of the 1920s and 1930s the country house weekend house party was an example in Britain of the 20^th century oozing class and propping up the flagging class structure. It was a ritual full of  frivolity.   Often, as in the case of South Wales, there were hundreds of families within a stone’s throw of the large mansions houses (like Tredegar House) who were struggling in poverty. [i] Two different worlds in the same town.

Evan  Morgan, the Lord of the Manor at  Tredegar  House, Newport  was one of  those who  staged  these large, lavish and lazy  weekend parties, whilst in the nearby hamlets of  Pill and Duffryn the unemployed tried to make ends meet.  In history,  the era was dubbed  “The Marching Thirties”.    

Evan’s parties are a  legend,  a  part of  the Evan - legacy  between 1934 and 1949  when he reigned supreme  as  the  last  Viscount  Tredegar .

In this book Newport Historian William Cross reveals the hundreds of people who were guests of Evan Morgan, Viscount Tredegar.

The book is available direct from the Author and on E-BAY and AMAZON.

CONTACT THE AUTHOR BY E-MAIL

williecross@aol.com

An illustrated talk is available on the book.

  

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[i] A good example of this comes from Christmas 1934  when  a concert was staged at the Olympia Cinema in Skinner Street , Newport on behalf of the Mayor of Newport’s Distress Fund for the poor in the town.

Weekend House Parties at Tredegar House 1934-1938

Tredegar House : Weekend Parties, Frolics and Fun

 Evan Morgan, Lord Tredegar's

House Guests  1934-1938

By William Cross, FSA Scot

“  a succession of people – members of what is called a week-end house-party; men and women who come and go calling themselves “friends,” who are nevertheless infuriated if they don’t have the best of everything, and are bored to tears if it doesn’t overflow all over them all the time..” Anon.

 A NEW BOOK FROM WILLIAM CROSS

NEWPORT HISTORIAN

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 .

AVAILABLE DIRECT FROM THE AUTHOR AND ON E-BAY AND AMAZON - LIMITED SUPPLY

AN ILLUSTRATED  TALK IS AVAILABLE FROM WILLIAM CROSS ABOUT THE BOOK


NEXT TALK

NEWPORT U3A  7 NOVEMBER 2019 

http://lecturelist.org/content/view_lecture/16498

Further Enquiries about the book etc please contact by e-mail/ post.

williecross@aol.com

William Cross

58 Sutton Newport, Newport,

NP 19 7JF

21 October 2019

NEW BOOK ON TREDEGAR HOUSE, NEWPORT

NEW BOOK ON TREDEGAR HOUSE

“MYTHS ABOUT THE MORGANS OF TREDEGAR HOUSE

BUSTING THE HISTORY FRAUDSTERS”

FROM  NEWPORT HISTORIAN :  WILLIAM CROSS

·        A  controversial new book about The Morgans of Tredegar House was  published in  2018.

·        The book is compiled by  Newport writer  and historian William Cross, FSA Scot, author of seven other books featuring members of the Morgan family.

·        The Fake News and Horrible History about the Morgans :

     The book has been written because of  :

•      Concern  over   fake  news,  myths,  and  bad history and coverage in articles and newspapers  about  the Morgans  in  the  public  domain.

·      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 to Tredegar House  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 : Published 30 April 2018: Released 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  can be obtained direct from the Author at £12.00 including UK post and packing. Higher priced  on Amazon/ e-bay,  Nielsen listing/ currently £15.00-£25.00.

Contact the Author for any current discount.

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

Enquiries please e-mail  williecross@aol.com

18 July 2018

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

Fake News at Tredegar House, Newport, South Wales

Myths About The Morgans of  Tredegar  House

FAKE NEWS

Introduction to new book with Footnotes

"Myths About The Morgans of Tredegar House, Newport, South Wales: Busting the History Fraudsters"

By William Cross, FSA Scot

Fake news is the scourge of today’s Society.

As  a   researcher  into  the  Morgans  of   Tredegar  House, Newport, South Wales,  and  the  Author of  seven  books  on  members of  that family,  I am concerned over   fake  news,  myths,  and  bad  history  about  them  in  the  public  domain.

For instance,  in  2017 several  articles in a local  Welsh  newspaper were riddled with  inaccuracies about  Lady Katharine Carnegie, Viscountess Tredegar (1867-1949) and  John  Morgan,  last Lord Tredegar (1908-1962).  [1] The newspaper trail in time past also carries fake news.  [2]

During   2016,   a   film  was  shown  to  visitors  at  Tredegar House  about a  ‘black box’  of  secrets  belonging to Evan Morgan, the last Viscount Tredegar.  The  claim  in the  film was  that  private documents  about  or  written by Evan,  who  died in 1949, had come to light since his death. The assertion continued that since these items could not be traced elsewhere they must have come from the mysterious ‘black box’ it is said that Evan left behind.

The film featured a group of students engaged in a foolish treasure hunt, apparently using geophysical scanners in the grounds of Tredegar House to try to locate the ‘black box’ buried there. The film ends with nothing being found.  The equipment was as phoney as the film; the consequence was the creation of fake news. [3]

It  is  for  those   charged  as  custodians  in  preserving  the accuracy and  integrity of  the  Morgan  family’s legacy (currently, The National Trust)  on  behalf  of Newport      (as the City owns Tredegar House),  to  identify and expunge such trite as the above, treated as true  history, besides, which,  those who guard  Morgan history should  not  be seen facilitating  the  erosion and falsifying of  that history.  [4]

It is  equally  paramount to  prevent  other  erroneous  tales  being imparted to  the  general  public  visiting  Tredegar   House  and through  wild  stories appearing in  articles,  newspapers  or  books that  could  be prevented with monitoring and  influence  over those responsible. [5]

In  the  exploits  of   the  Morgans  no  single  person  or  body  holds  all  the  information  in  every   detail  about  their rich, chequered  lives,  their loves, hates, achievements, successes and failures  in their  history. [6]

There is always room for  more academic study  and other research, for liaison, frank discussion, argument, differing opinion etc, and lessons from revisiting the family’s vast array of records and re-appraising the historical interpretations about the Morgans, but a story that is contrived or distorted is fake news. Allowing the outpouring of fake news is reprehensible.

In  this  short  book  the   aim  is  to  point  out   some   of   the myths  and  stories  secreted over the years into books, web sites  and articles  or  from  those personally heard on  public tours  at Tredegar  House.  I  offer, in good faith,  information  (and sources) to   support the Morgan  family’s  history  in order  to   bust  the mockery  and  deceptions  created by  myths and  fake news.  

I  would  be  pleased to receive any comments/  information/ documents/stories  etc  from readers  about any of the items in the book on the  Morgans  or  their  collaterals that may be suitable for inclusion  in  a  follow-up edition.  I would also be happy to correct my errors.

William Cross, Newport, South Wales:  30 April 2018

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[1] South Wales Argus:   16th September 2017: “The bizarre world of one of Newport’s most infamous residents who practised black magic and kept a kangaroo” maligns the memory of Lady Katharine Carnegie, Viscountess Tredegar.  South Wales Argus: 4th November 2017: “The last Lord of Tredegar, who avoided paying millions, sold Tredegar House and lived as a tax exile in Monte Carlo” misrepresents John Morgan, the last Lord Tredegar.  The Author had letters published by the Editor of the South Wales Argus condemning these articles. Contact the Author for more details, if required including the text of letters/e-mails.

[2]  See Newspaper ‘Wales on Line’ of 5 April 2013. This carried an article on Evan Morgan, Viscount Tredegar (1893-1949) headed “The spying Welsh Lord, his occult secrets, and the dancing kangaroo.  A new book about the notorious Lord Tredegar Evan Morgan aims to tell his outrageous story for the first time”.  The book is itself a myth, it has not appeared, and the article is full of errors and is discredited by the research in the books “Aspects of Evan”and“Not Behind Lace Curtains The hidden world of Evan, Viscount Tredegar” by Monty Dart and William Cross.  Book Midden Publishing. ( 2013).

[3] This matter was the subject of a complaint by the Author to the National Trust at Tredegar House; please contact the Author for further details, if required. A short digest of events is as follows: Comments about the film were left in the feedback system at Tredegar House but there with no response. The Author wrote to the General Manager and copied the mail to the National Trust’s Area Manager saying the film lacked integrity. A meeting followed. The General Manager spoke of having a five year plan to obliterate myths and tall stories, with the appointment of a “myth buster”. She left the job soon afterwards. The National Trust subsequently removed the books written by the Author on the Morgans from the gift shop for sale to the public.  See also Chapter 12 of this book on Evan’s last papers and documents with the outcome of recent research on their whereabouts.

[4] See the Author’s introduction to his book “Sketches of Evan, Viscount Tredegar. ‘Lord of the Lies’ ” ISBN 9781905914463. A copy of this piece “The Erosion of the History of the Morgans of Tredegar House, Newport” is available by e-mail, on request.

[5] There seems to be no policy, clearing system or prohibition for employees of the National Trust giving interviews to the press or other third parties about the Morgans of Tredegar House.   See the Author’s book reviews on Amazon, Good Reads and Google. The Author would be pleased to send any reader a list of titles already in the public domain including several sourced by guides and volunteers at Tredegar House with fake news, bad history or bogus stories about the Morgans.

[6] Material on the Morgans is scattered across various British Archives, the National Library of Wales has the most important of the Estate records. Gwent and Glamorgan Archives have material as does the British Library, and the National Archives, Kew. Some records are still in the hands of other archives and in private hands.