Utopia on Usk: exhibition explores Newport’s post-war Development Plan

When Jill Maclean retired from her banking job at the age of 59, a quiet life was far from her mind. Instead, she pursued her dream of going to university, and embarked on a History degree at the University of South Wales (USW).

Fast forward seven years, Jill has now graduated from a Masters in Research (MRes) at USW, and opened an exhibition in the centre of Newport, based on her study into the success of the city’s post-war Development Plan, which revolutionised social housing for future generations.

Her Utopia on Usk exhibition, featuring historical photographs, newspaper cuttings and various artefacts spanning 1948-1971, will be on display at Cwtsh Community & Arts Centre, Stow Hill, Newport until Sunday 18 February. Viewing times are 1pm-4pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Now aged 67, Jill, who is originally from Malpas, put together the exhibition after discovering the Newport Development Plan, which was published in 1953, and the work of renowned architect Johnson Blackett, who contributed to the planning, design and construction of several housing estates in the region.

Jill, who left Newport when she was 19 for a career at the Foreign Office, came back to her hometown with her husband Iain when their daughters, Lynsey and Becky, were toddlers. After working in finance and later insurance, she wasn’t sure what to do next after retiring – but she had always wanted to further her education.

“I went to a USW Open Day and fell in love with the idea of studying History – and I’m so glad I took that leap of faith,” said Jill.

“I absolutely loved university; my course mates and lecturers were all wonderful, and despite having quite low expectations of how I would do, I gave it my best shot and graduated with a first class honours.”

Jill decided to progress to the MRes in History at USW, and focus her studies on Newport.

“I have such happy memories of my childhood in Newport, and it has such a great history that I felt needed to be told,” she said.

“Despite a tricky start to my Masters, with the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns disrupting studies, I managed to visit the Newport Reference Library and Gwent Archives and read through the minutes of historical council meetings. That’s when I started to find mention of the Development Plan, which I knew nothing about.

“The more research I did, the more I realised that housing was a huge priority for Newport after World War 2, and that the Gaer housing estate, which is just down the road from my exhibition, actually received an Award of Merit in the 1951 Festival of Britain, thanks to the work of Johnson Blackett.”

As Blackett had moved to Adelaide, Australia during his retirement, Jill was able to put together a large part of the exhibition using previously unseen copies of documents from Blackett’s collection at the University of South Australia’s Architecture Museum.

These include newspaper cuttings about his work; aerial photographs of the Newport communities he helped to build, and even his pen and ink drawings of how he envisioned housing estates – or neighbourhood units – would look by the 1970s, complete with their own schools, shops, health facilities and cinemas.

Jill said: “The Labour government at the time had taken on board Aneurin Bevan’s vision of everyone living in council homes, with no need for mortgages; everyone was entitled, no matter their class, to good accommodation and access to schooling, healthcare and other community services.

“Housing came under the Department of Health back then, and so the Council decided that if Newport had good quality housing, they could attract skilled people there from other areas.”

As part of her research, Jill was able to see a copy of the Development Plan, which is kept in the National Archives in Aberystwyth, and eventually discovered the original document in Newport Library.

“It contains the most beautiful photographs of the area, and details of how Newport saw itself for the next 20 years,” she said.

“The Dyffryn estate was the last neighbourhood unit to be developed under the Plan, which also included the Gaer, St Julian’s, Malpas, Bettws and Ringland.

“It’s clear to see the passion that Blackett and his close friend, Alderman Arthur Dolman – a former councillor and Mayor of Newport – had for transforming the town into somewhere that everyone wanted to come and live.

“They were fundamental to the success achieved by the Council in the construction of social housing, and in fulfilling the Development Plan, often in the face of political opposition. By creating several neighbourhood units, Newport was able to house its existing population, as well as encouraging the growth and prosperity of the town.

“Newport faced the challenges of population growth and employment when, despite financial austerity, people expected better housing, healthcare, and opportunities than before the war.

Doing this project has bolstered my pride in Newport, and I hope it will do the same for others as they come and see the exhibition. Our hometown should be celebrated for its successes.”