A NEW app providing a walking tour documenting the history of the Chartist uprising in Newport has been tested for the first time.

Historians, politicians and shoppers visited Newport Market on Saturday (May 13) to try out a new app and website created by University of the West of England film-making students Gareth Croft and Hannah-Jane Churchman for the Newport Rising project.

The mobile and website app is due to be launched in November to coincide with the 178th anniversary of the 1839 uprising in which more than 5,000 Chartist supporters took part in a march on Newport to free campaigners being held in the Westgate Hotel.

A new website will document the story of the uprising using video and images created by students, schools and community groups as part of a £4,000 project, funded by Newport Live and Communities First and with support from Newport Museum and Art Gallery and Our Chartist Heritage.

On Saturday, shoppers in Newport were given the chance to test the app and get a look at the website as part of a user testing event.

Users downloaded the app to learn about the Chartist uprising with a GPS based audio tour, taking them around key Chartist landmarks in the city.

The tour starts outside Newport Market before taking in landmarks including Ye Olde Murenger House, Newport Museum and St Woolos Cathedral.

As users visit the different landmarks, the app explains the history behind them.

Mr Croft, of Lliswerry, aged 36, said he was “thrilled” with the response.

“It was fantastic to see people finally using the project we have spent five months designing and their feedback will be invaluable in helping us improve it ready for release this November,” he said.

“The interactive documentary was extremely popular with school children who tested it and could make an interesting alternative to learning about the Chartists compared to traditional textbooks.

“One of the highlights for us as filmmakers were the number of stories that we discussed with the public who tested our project.

“Seeing both old and new images of Newport on the big screen brought back many memories and interesting stories about the Chartists and Newport in general that we would love to explore in the future.”