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GB News attacks National Museum of Wales once more for ‘cancelling’ first steam train

20 Mar 2022 7 minute read
GB News’ segment attacking the National Museum of Wales

GB News has criticised the National Museum of Wales for the second time in two weeks – this time for “cancelling” the world’s first-ever steam locomotive.

Last week Nigel Farage has used his show on GB News to attack the National Museum of Wales for adding placards from 2020 Black Lives Matter protests to its museums.

This week the news channel was unhappy that a replica of the first steam-powered locomotive in Wales was to be relabeled by the National Museum Wales to point out that “trade and colonial exploitation were embedded in Wales’ economy and society and were fundamental to Wales’ development as an industrialised nation”.

Wales was part of the British Empire and goods and technology produced in Wales, such as iron from Merthyr Tydfil, were used around the world as part of the Empire’s expansion.

But the historical context which will be added to a replica of Richard Trevithick’s locomotive, the first steam-powered locomotive journey which took place at the Penydarren Ironworks in Merthyr Tydfil in 1804, angered GB News’ contributors.

Robert Poll from Save Our Statues said that they were trying to “cancel” the first steam train and were desperate “to attack any and every part of British history”.

“We should be celebrating these amazing feats of civilisation, rather than weaving them into a false narrative of endless oppression.”

A replica of Richard Trevithick’s locomotive (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Speaking on GB News historian Dr Zareer Masani said that the National Museum of Wales suffered from a “lopsided priority” to find something to be ashamed of in our own culture”.

“I think if you look for connections there are connections between all kinds of global developments, but I think the chronology as David Starkey pointed out is that steam engines only came into use really much after the abolition of slavery and industrialization helped to make it possible to abolish slavery,” he said.

The NMW statement said about the adding of historical context to the Trevithick’s locomotive said that the reality was “that links to slavery are woven into the warp and weft of Welsh society”.

“Trade and colonial exploitation were embedded in Wales’ economy and society and were fundamental to Wales’ development as an industrialised nation.

“As we continue to audit the collection, we will explore how the slave trade linked and fed into the development of the steam and railway infrastructure in Wales.”

The National Museum is a family of seven museums and a collections centre, which are all free to enter thanks to the support of the Welsh Government. Together, it is home to the nation’s art, history and science collections, which will continue to grow so that they can be used and enjoyed by both present and future generations.

The events and exhibitions programme is supported by players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

‘Inappropriate’

Last week the Director of the National Museum of Wales has said that they are “honoured” to display placards from 2020s Black Lives Matter rallies after Nigel Farage used his GB News show to attack the exhibition.

David Anderson, Director General of the National Museum Wales, said that it was more important than ever to “defend democracy and cultural rights” and they “must collect far more of the histories of Black communities in Wales, not less”.

Nigel Farage had attacked the museum in a segment branded ‘WFT – Woke Wales’ on his GB News show, in which he said the display was “very inappropriate” because Black Lives Matter was “violent” and “Marxist”.

But he was heavily criticised for his comments by the museum, Welsh politicians and others who backed their decision to display the placards.

Plaid Cymru Senedd Member Heledd Fychan said “you know you’re doing something right if Nigel Farage attacks you,” praising the display as “excellent”. Labour Senedd Member Dawn Bowden meanwhile told him to “get knotted”.


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Erisian
Erisian
2 years ago

I think that dog-whistle has got stuck in his throat. I hope it chokes him.

Rob Pountney
Rob Pountney
2 years ago

David Starkey ‘historian’… He has been repeatedly censured for racist comments…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Starkey

defaid
defaid
2 years ago
Reply to  Rob Pountney

In this case he’s either mistaken or lying. Wrong, whatever. See my other comment on this article.

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
2 years ago

I really couldn’t care less what british nationalists think.

Phil
Phil
2 years ago
Reply to  GW Atkinson

..nor do I care less about your thoughts!

Mark
Mark
2 years ago

Farage thinks Putin is a hero and someone to admire, the self opinionated starky is a racist, as he has proven several times when msm is stupid enough to give him any airtime, GB news should be consigned to the bin along with Russia Today.

Phil
Phil
2 years ago
Reply to  Mark

I applaud your very balanced and unbiased view.

Gareth
Gareth
2 years ago

The views of a foreign right wing broadcaster, are best left ignored, and where they belong, in the gutter.

Nottabott
Nottabott
2 years ago

Says it all, that only way he can be proud of “Britain” is to gloss over the bad parts and mate with a flag

defaid
defaid
2 years ago

Starkey has it entirely wrong. He’s either mistaken or attempting to rewrite history. Steam engines were in use in mining from about 1700 (Savery’s “Miner’s Friend” 1698). What we think of as a steam engine was improved by James Watt between 1760 and 1780 and was already very widespread in mining. Trevithick’s Pen y Darren (high pressure steam engine) carried ten tons of iron and seventy men from Penydarren to Abercynon in 1804. The slave *trade* was abolished three years later. Stevenson’s Rocket, commercial passenger locomotive, made its inaugural run in 1829. The Abolition of Slavery Act was not passed… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by defaid
Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
2 years ago
Reply to  defaid

Hiya defaid, if you have not got a copy I think you might enjoy Eric Williams’ Capitalism and Slavery…Gwyn Alf Williams am byth yea!…

Gill
Gill
2 years ago

What’s new? The bloody trains ard always being cancelled😂🤣🤣

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

Nigel Farage & GB News have such thin skins. Don’t they like hearing the truth rather than a sanitised version of history where the British Empire civilised those illiterate savages rather than used ethnic cleansing and exploited the native peoples of their natural resources, and I include Wales & Welsh in that statement, being its very first trophy nation. The birth of Empire began with the Saxon incursion into Cymry land 1400 years ago with Hengist & Horsa. It was later compounded f by the Anglo-Norman invasion of Wales in 1282. We were the very first people & nation exploited… Read more »

Last edited 2 years ago by Y Cymro
Phil
Phil
2 years ago
Reply to  Y Cymro

Those damned Saxons! Look at all the trouble they started! Pity there’s no Saxon statues I can pull down.

Quornby
Quornby
2 years ago

GB News? Nobody sane reads or listens to that. Please don’t sully this forum by mentioning them.

Last edited 2 years ago by Quornby
Phil
Phil
2 years ago
Reply to  Quornby

There’s nothing like an open mind and yours is nothing like an open mind

Cynan
Cynan
2 years ago

His harmful views. Surely you can tell the difference comrade

Phil
Phil
2 years ago
Reply to  Cynan

In what way are his views harmful? They’re just views which you strongly oppose.That doesn’t make them harmful, just disagreeable.

Finn
Finn
2 years ago

BritNat agendas and nonsense aside, doesn’t it nevertheless make you want to vomit, the extent which Welsh politicians and commentators take every given opportunity to display our country’s supposed moral purity on matters of immigration? Who are they trying to please, who is calling the tune here? Its appallingly shallow, considering our small nation already has a major immigration crisis. I feel we are being played, as a nation. We need some serious controls of immigration, and a major boost to our own Welsh native culture and identity. We seem to be losing any collective will to stand up for… Read more »

Phil
Phil
2 years ago
Reply to  Finn

I particularly like the way most commenters on Nation.Cymru take the moral high ground shouting their delight at the Government’s declaration of Wales as ‘The Country of Refuge’…. then go on to spew out their utter distaste of all things English! Priceless!

Phil
Phil
2 years ago

Why not blame Trevithick for World War 1 being so brutal? Without railways it would have been impossible to move the huge amounts of munitions involved. Shame on him!!!

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