The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has awarded a grant of £8,400 to Newport Memorial Hall to run a community project to make a film about women’s history in the town.

The award will allow an exploration and documentation of Newport’s unique history including the Lady Marchers who owned the castle from 1933 to 2011 and the myth of the Lavender Lady who walks from the castle to the sea.

The project aims to explore this heritage from the perspective of local women, both old and young, and document the lives of ordinary women in Newport.

Project leaders are looking for people to get involved with gathering women’s history in Newport, either by interviewing their relatives and friends or recollecting their own lives or women and stories from the past.

Hall manager Siobhan Ashe said: “We are excited to get this project off the ground.

“After speaking to groups in Newport such as the youth club and Merched yr Wawr, it was clear that people wanted to know more about women’s contribution to Newport’s heritage and indeed, enjoyed recollecting their own past.

“This is a unique opportunity for all to get involved in making this film.

“We hope that many will come forward with their memories of times gone by.

“There is little documented of the Lavender Lady, we are hoping people may come forward with their experiences.

We can also offer training in film-making and interviewing techniques.”

The culmination of the project will be a film made by Newport film-maker and artist Penny Jones.

It will be screened at Newport Memorial Hall in February 2013 and will go on to be shown at the Tourist Information Centre.

A fun brain-storming session will be held at the Memorial Hall on June 26th at 7pm.

Local historians Angela John and Reg Davies will attend. All welcome.

For more information contact Siobhan Ashe on 07772 004218.