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Pillgwenlly Library

Following on from the above, this is another puzzle. It is the former Pillgwenlly Library on Temple Street in Newport. It has a certain fame as the inscription in the pediment, "Knowledge is power" inspired the opening line of the Manic Street Preachers' song, A Design for Life.[1] It is frequently described as a Carnegie library.[2] But there are some questions:

This, and other sources, suggest the building dates from 1889. That would make it a very early UK Carnegie - only six years after Dunfermline, the first in the UK, and more than a decade before the next in Wales;
It doesn't appear to be recorded in Oriel Prizeman's, The Carnegie Libraries of Britain;
It doesn't appear to be recorded in the digital catalogue of the Cardiff University Carnegie project.
It's not listed by Cadw, or recorded in the RCAHMW Coflein database, so they give no information.

Does anyone have any sourcing on the building's origins? KJP1 (talk) 12:48, 6 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The news coverage of the library's closure give snippets of background information, such as in Wales Online (though it doesn't mention Carnegie unfortunately). It certainly seems worthy of a Wikipedia article. Sionk (talk) 11:49, 23 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

And if not here, then certainly on cywiki. I've looked on the Peoples Collection Wales website and I haven't found anything specifically about the library.I'm fairly sure that the saying "Knowledge is power" is very very old, but it could be that the Manics saw it there for the first time. Merits further research. Deb (talk) 15:32, 23 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I found something in an 1888 issue of Building News[3] that says there was a plan for a new Free Reading Room in Pillgwenlly around that time, so it would make sense for that plan to have developed into a library. Deb (talk) 15:38, 23 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks both - very helpful. Interestingly, Brodie's Directory of British Architects does have an entry for an Alfred Swash, of Midland Bank Chambers, Newport, who was articled to Habershon and Fawckner before setting up on his own. Unfortunately, it doesn't mention the library. I agree an article would be good, but the sources will be a struggle. No Cadw/Coflein/Pevsner and, as I don't think it's a Carnegie, neither of the Carnegie sources either. Which leaves us rather light. The problem with the modern newspapers is that they focus heavily on the Manic Street Preachers connection, and rather less on details about the building. But Deb's finding Swash is a very good start - let's see what else can be unearthed. KJP1 (talk) 16:33, 23 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Has anyone had a close look at the foundation stone? Deb (talk) 17:23, 23 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

While Newport was a great stomping ground when I was young, I am now located rather a long way away. But it’s a good idea, and I think a few of the Wales contributors are closer. KJP1 (talk) 17:40, 23 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

There should be some sources here at NLW, if anyone has the time. Tony Holkham (Talk) 19:41, 23 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Or in NLW journals. Tony Holkham (Talk) 19:47, 23 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Good Lord, Tony, that's a lot of mentions of Pill! I shall see whether I can find any relating to the library. Many thanks. KJP1 (talk) 07:31, 24 July 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I know this is an old discussion, but in interesting one, so I just had a look myself on the NLW newspaper archive and found this article (which you may have already seen) about a competition for architects to design the library/reading room, and another just after opening, which has a lot details, such as the different areas inside and the cost etc, plus a nice sketch of the front. Rhyswynne (talk) 17:21, 8 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Rhyswynne - sincere apologies for the delay in replying, and sincere thanks for the link. There’s some useful info. there. I’ll see if we have enough for a stub/start. KJP1 (talk) 06:56, 9 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

With thanks for the suggestions and support, we now have a Start article, Pillgwenlly Library. I'd very much appreciate it if anyone has a source for its current use, if any. Some of the newspaper reports suggest that it became a community hub in 2014, e.g. [4], on closure as a library. But confusingly, the images appear to show a different building, and the texts locate it on Commercial Road, rather than Temple Street. To complicate matters, that building also appears to have been closed by the council in 2024. If any editor is aware of an up-to-date RS detailing its current function, it would be good to add it in. Thanks again. KJP1 (talk) 10:23, 9 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Facebook groups for local history societies and the like are places you can sometimes find an answer. I mean, you can't use Facebook as a source, but once you have some kind of up-to-date knowledge, it's easier to find mentions in newspapers, etc. Deb (talk) 10:43, 9 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Good article reassessment for Flat Holm

Flat Holm has been nominated for a good article reassessment. If you are interested in the discussion, please participate by adding your comments to the reassessment page. If concerns are not addressed during the review period, the good article status may be removed from the article. Z1720 (talk) 03:53, 9 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Anyone interested in a Cardiff based meet up?

Hi, I'm the (new-ish) Wales and languages Programme Co-ordinator at Wikimedia UK (I started in January this year). As I live in Cardiff, I was thinking about setting up a monthly or bimonthly Cardiff meet up for local Wikipedians here and wondered, is there anyone here who might be interested in helping get that off the ground with me? (Separately, I'm also available to chats about how I can help set up or support meet ups in other parts of Wales if that's of interest to anyone)

The main thing I'd love help with is other Wikipedians who can greet people if I can't be there one month. In my spare time I help run another group where there is a "pool" of 4 of us who can run it and that works really well. I'm also newish to Wiki so I'd also appreciate pointers about where on Wiki to advertise etc. (and if anyone has any connections with a suitable Cardiff venue, that could also be useful!).

I was imagining a Saturday morning but open to other suggestions. Happy to chat further on Wiki or by email (Gemma.Coleman@wikimedia.org.uk ) Gemma Coleman (WMUK) (talk) 08:25, 27 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Rewrite of First Minister of Wales

Hi, just raising awareness that First Minister of Wales has been re-written/expanded. Fully appreciate the effort of the editor, but have concerns some WP:OR has been slipped in, so additional eyes to check would be fully appreciated. Boldly cut a lot on the history focusing on Welsh devolution and the Welsh Government rather than the position, although feel free to re-add or trim off more. Dank Jae 15:28, 31 August 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Draft:Dim Probs track listing translations

Hi, could anyone take a look at the track listing and help to verify the accuracy of the English translations (especially the first two)? I don't know any Welsh so I'd really appreciate it. The only thing that's certain is that "Dim Probs" translates to "No Probs" because Gruff Rhys explained that it's a Welsh-English dialectal phrase. Fundgy (talk) 02:08, 15 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Requested move at Talk:House of Mathrafal#Requested move 3 September 2025

There is a requested move discussion at Talk:House of Mathrafal#Requested move 3 September 2025 that may be of interest to members of this WikiProject. Extraordinary Writ (talk) 19:56, 21 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Good article reassessment for Millennium Stadium

Millennium Stadium has been nominated for a good article reassessment. If you are interested in the discussion, please participate by adding your comments to the reassessment page. If concerns are not addressed during the review period, the good article status may be removed from the article. Z1720 (talk) 00:46, 24 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

"Village" stubs

Can anyone please look through the stubs created by User:Wici Rhuthun 1 about villages/hamlets in Wales. Many (most?) of them don't seem to be villages at all, for example Pantinker and Glan-alaw which are already PRODed. In total it looks like there might be about 250 of these stubs, lots will need to be deleted or redirected. link for the stubs SlimyGecko7 (talk) 15:10, 4 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Requested move at Talk:Llanvabon#Requested move 30 September 2025

There is a requested move discussion at Talk:Llanvabon#Requested move 30 September 2025 that may be of interest to members of this WikiProject. --pro-anti-air ––>(talk)<–– 20:01, 7 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Good article reassessment for Kyle Critchell

Kyle Critchell has been nominated for a good article reassessment. If you are interested in the discussion, please participate by adding your comments to the reassessment page. If concerns are not addressed during the review period, the good article status may be removed from the article. Z1720 (talk) 14:10, 8 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Requested move at Talk:Rhys Williams (Welsh actor)#Requested move 27 September 2025

There is a requested move discussion at Talk:Rhys Williams (Welsh actor)#Requested move 27 September 2025 that may be of interest to members of this WikiProject. TarnishedPath^talk 09:00, 12 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Cardiff Meet Up 6th November 2025

In case there are any Cardiff based Wikipedians here - we're organising our first Cardiff Meet Up for some time and you're invited!

It's on Thursday 6th November (6pm to 8pm) at Bru Coffee on Queen Street. It will be an informal social so it's completely fine to arrive late / leave early. The aim is just for people editing Wiki in Cardiff (or those interested in doing so) to get together, chat about what they are up to, ask for any peer support with Wiki things they might want, chat about the kinds of events they might like in person in 2026 and also to just have a lovely time!

All of the information is at https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Meetup/Cardiff/5 (I haven't had time to translate it into Welsh yet but the Welsh translation should be up by end of next week when I'm back in work).

Hope to see some of you there but if Cardiff Meet Ups are something you're interested in but something about this set up/ date / location / time isn't accessible for you, please let me know at gemma.coleman@wikimedia.org.uk so I can bear it in mind when we organise future events. Gemma Coleman (WMUK) (talk) 13:49, 15 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Discussion at Talk:Wales Green Party § Welsh independence in the infobox (again)

You are invited to join the discussion at Talk:Wales Green Party § Welsh independence in the infobox (again), which is within the scope of this WikiProject. Dank Jae 08:25, 19 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Discussion at Wikipedia:Templates for discussion/Log/2025 November 6 § Culture sidebars part 10

You are invited to join the discussion at Wikipedia:Templates for discussion/Log/2025 November 6 § Culture sidebars part 10, which is within the scope of this WikiProject. For the deletion of {{Culture of Wales}} to merge into {{Wales topics}}. Dank Jae 19:34, 6 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]