Anger and frustration as Newport medieval ship set to remain in storage

Nearly 25 years after its discovery, campaigners remain disheartened over the uncertain future of the medieval Newport Ship. This 15th-century vessel was uncovered in 2002 during construction work on the Riverfront Theatre, found buried in the muddy banks of the River Usk in Newport city centre. Despite its significance, plans to create a permanent home for the ship have yet to materialize. Local councillors are expected to decide to keep the ship in its current storage situation for the time being, due in large part to the estimated £27.5 million cost for building a dedicated display facility.

The city council has also highlighted difficulties in finding a suitable location for such a project within Newport, though it maintains a long-term goal to improve public engagement and interpretation of the ship. After its discovery, the ship’s timber components—totaling around 2,500 pieces—were carefully dismantled and subjected to a thorough restoration process before being stored securely. Occasionally, the site housing these parts has been open to visitors, but there remains strong advocacy for a full reconstruction along the lines of the Tudor-era Mary Rose warship exhibition in Portsmouth.

Charles Ferris, chair of the Friends of the Newport Ship, emphasizes the historical importance of the vessel, describing it as “a wonderful find from the time of the great voyages of exploration, where Europe reached out to the other continents.” Ferris highlights that the ship was a trading vessel rather than a warship, which he sees as central to Newport’s heritage. Despite these views, a recent council report recommends maintaining the existing storage setup, which costs around £115,000 annually. While discussions have included potential reassembly trials or permanent display options, no currently available facility can accommodate the ship, and an offsite custodianship outside Newport is not being considered by the council.

This stance has sparked criticism from opposition figures who view a permanent exhibition as a valuable opportunity to boost tourism and civic pride. Matthew Evans, leader of Newport’s Conservative group, expressed frustration with the council’s inaction and perceived lack of ambition. Evans compared the Newport Ship’s potential to that of the Mary Rose, which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors yearly, and argued that the city possesses plenty of riverfront sites that could be developed with private investment. He said, “The council needs to be driving this – I’m tired of all these excuses, no action.” Similarly, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd Peredur Owen Griffiths lamented a “lack of ambition” from successive administrations and pointed to possibilities for creating a historical tourism package that might include the ship alongside other local landmarks like the Transporter Bridge and Caerleon.

Campaigners remain keen to see the ship retained in Newport rather than moved elsewhere. Ferris stressed the community’s emotional and financial investment: “A lot of money has been spent on that ship, so we’re really on the last stretch as it were, we don’t want to see it fizzle out now.” He went on to warn of the consequences of relocating the artifact, stating, “I think it would be a tragedy if it was ever taken anywhere else. That would be a terrible indictment on us, and after all it was the will of the Newport people that saved it.” The future of the Newport Ship continues to be a contentious issue, balancing significant heritage value against the challenges of funding and securing its permanent home