116-533: The Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company was a canal and railway company that operated a canal and a network of railways in the Western Valley and Eastern Valley of Newport, Monmouthshire . It started as the Monmouthshire Canal Navigation and opened canals from Newport to Pontypool and to Crumlin from 1796. Numerous tramroads connected nearby pits and ironworks with the canal. After 1802
232-712: A community council . Newport has a moderate temperate climate , with the weather rarely staying the same for more than a few days at a time. The city is one of the sunnier locations in Wales and its sheltered location tends to protect it from extreme weather. Like the whole of the British Isles, Newport benefits from the warming effect of the Gulf Stream . Newport has mild summers and cool winters. Thunderstorms may occur intermittently at any time of year, but are most common throughout late-spring and summer. Rain falls throughout
348-573: A unitary authority in 1996 and forms part of the Cardiff-Newport metropolitan area , and the Cardiff Capital Region . Newport has been a port since medieval times when the first Newport Castle was built by the Normans . The town outgrew the earlier Roman town of Caerleon , immediately upstream and now part of the city. Newport gained its first charter in 1314. It grew significantly in
464-542: A 12-year-old paperboy, Thomas 'Toya' Lewis, who was small enough to crawl into the collapsed trench. He worked for two hours trying to free one of the trapped men, who was finally released the next day. A public subscription raised several hundred pounds and Lewis was sent on an engineering scholarship. He was also awarded the Albert Medal for Lifesaving by King Edward VII . Memorials to the dead are in St Mark's Church , close to
580-503: A by-election in 1922 was one of the causes of the fall of his coalition government. The late 19th and early 20th century period was a boom time for Newport. The Alexandra Docks opened in 1875. The population was expanding rapidly and the town became a county borough in 1891. In 1892 the Alexandra South Dock was opened and was the largest masonry dock in the world. Although coal exports from Newport were by now modest compared to
696-533: A cosmopolitan population who will not submit to the domination of Welsh ideas!". Lloyd George was to suffer a further blow in Newport, when the South Wales Liberal Federation, led by David Alfred Thomas , an industrialist and Liberal politician, and Robert Bird moved that Lloyd George "be not heard" in the 1895 General Election . The Conservative capture of the recently created Newport constituency in
812-471: A demonstration run conveying a payload of 52 + 1 ⁄ 2 tons a distance of 15 miles. Two other coalowners followed his example. The Newport to Risca (and Nine Mile Point) tramroad was extended from Risca to Crumlin in 1829, directly paralleling the canal. It became known as the Western Valley Line. Most of the traffic was still horse-drawn. The Rumney Tramroad was under construction, running on
928-399: A detention of some hours, and on coming through Tredegar Park, the chimney was carried away by a branch of a tree hanging over the tram-road; and in consequence of these accidents it did not arrive at Newport till the evening. There were problems with steaming and with boiler feed water in the early days. Nevertheless, the results of locomotive operation were encouraging. However, the weight of
1044-506: A distance of twelve miles and a half, there is a rise of 447 feet by the canal; in its railway continuation to Blaen-Din there is a rise of 610 feet in a distance of five miles and a quarter. From Crindau Farm to Crumlin Bridge the canal rises 358 feet in eleven miles; the railway from Crumlin Bridge to Beaufort rises 619 feet in ten miles; the Nant-y-Glo branch has a rise of 518 feet. The gauge of
1160-714: A junction at Coed-y-Gric Farm near Pontypool. Accordingly, the Monmouthshire now started doubling their line to accommodate the extra traffic. In addition the line had to be completed from the temporary terminus at Marshes Turnpike Gate to Mill Street; this was opened on 9 March 1853. The official opening of the NA&;HR took place on 2 January 1854: five trains per day were run. The remaining three were mixed goods and passenger with third class accommodation, and had an intermediate stop at Pontnewydd. The Eastern and Western Valley sections were not connected at Newport, due to objections from
1276-697: A new crossing of the River Usk, which was provided by the Newport Transporter Bridge completed in 1906, described as "Newport's greatest treasure". Further extensions to the South Dock were opened in 1907 and 1914. The Newport Docks Disaster occurred on 2 July 1909 when, during the construction of the new south lock connecting the South Dock to the Severn Estuary , supporting timbers in an excavation trench collapsed and buried 46 workers. Rescuers included
SECTION 10
#17328527524621392-425: A nominal capital of £6000, Outram was the only partner active in the management of the company, assisted by his younger brother, Joseph. Over time the business expanded to include a limestone quarry, limekilns, collieries and ironstone pits. Outram became a leading advocate in the construction of tramways using L-section rails, which along with the wagons were manufactured at his Butterley Ironworks. His first tramway
1508-506: A pre-existing fortification in the vicinity and is most likely either to reference the ancient fort on Stow Hill, or a fort that occupied the site of the present castle. The English name 'Newport' is a later application. The settlement was first recorded by the Normans as novo burgus in 1126. This Latin name refers to the new borough (or town) established with the Norman castle. The origin of
1624-557: A result, the company was unable to complete the Newport and Pontypool Railway within the time limit set by Parliament. The Newport and Pontypool Railway Amendment Act 1848 ( 11 & 12 Vict. c. cxx) was passed, allowing an extension of time for construction, authority to carry passengers, and a change of name to the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company . They were freed from the obligation to provide mineral wagons, but locomotives remained their responsibility, and horse traction
1740-467: A result. Newport became one of the largest towns in Wales and the focus for the new industrial eastern valleys of South Wales . By 1830 Newport was Wales' leading coal port, and until the 1850s it was larger than Cardiff. The Newport Rising in 1839 was the last large-scale armed rebellion against authority in mainland Britain. John Frost and 3,000 other Chartists marched on the Westgate Hotel at
1856-861: A son, James Outram , who became a general in the Indian Army and was later knighted. He died of a "brain fever" (a term used for several illnesses including meningitis and encephalitis) while visiting London in 1805. After his death, and some considerable litigation, in 1807 Benjamin Outram and Company was renamed the Butterley Company . After his death, his wife Margaret (1778–1863), daughter of James Anderson , wrote that Outram "was hasty in his temper, feeling his own superiority over others. Accustomed to command, he had little toleration for stupidity and slowness, and none for meanness or littleness of any kind." In spite of his prowess, Outram's wife and family were for
1972-525: A special "combination" wheel that could run on a standard gauge edge rail track or the narrower tramplate track. Over 521 tons of improved wrought iron tramplates were purchased, and the cost of improvements by November 1846 was £17,742. At the time of authorisation of the Pontypool line in 1845, the company was heavily committed in upgrading its existing lines. A financial depression set in at this time, and money became impossible to obtain for railway schemes. As
2088-711: A while reduced to near poverty after his death until his liabilities could be settled through the courts. She died in Edinburgh and is buried in St John's churchyard in one of the lower terraces. Joseph Outram was a promoter of the Cromford Canal , and when William Jessop was approached to design and build it he found an able assistant in 24-year-old Benjamin. Construction of the canal, particularly Butterley Tunnel , revealed substantial mineral deposits. The neighbouring Butterley Hall and its 200-acre (0.81 km ) estate came on
2204-558: Is a city and county borough in Wales , situated on the River Usk close to its confluence with the Severn Estuary , 12 mi (19 km) northeast of Cardiff . The population grew considerably between the 2011 and the 2021 census , rising from 145,700 to 159,587, the largest growth of any unitary authority in Wales. Newport is the third-largest principal authority with city status in Wales, and sixth most populous overall . Newport became
2320-637: Is a branch canal to Crumlin Bridge. At Court-y-Bella Farm at Risca and at Pillgwenlly it joins the Sirhowey Tramroad. From the Crumlin Bridge branch, there is a railroad to Beaufort ironworks; a branch to Sorwy furnace, another to Nant-y-Glo works and a third to the Sirhowey Railroad to Risca. Near Pontypool is a railway branch to Trosnant furnace and another to Blaen-Din works. From the Usk to Pontnewynydd in
2436-500: Is continuing to expand rapidly with new housing estates continuing to be built. The city boundaries include a number of villages in the Newport Built-up area . The city is divided into 21 wards. Most of these wards are coterminous with communities (parishes) of the same name. Each community can have an elected council. The following table lists city council wards, communities and associated geographical areas. * communities with
SECTION 20
#17328527524622552-410: Is largely low-lying, but with a few hilly areas. Wentwood is 1,014 ft (309 m) above sea level. Areas in the south and east of the city tend to be flat and fertile with some housing estates and industrial areas reclaimed from marshland. Areas near the banks of the River Usk, such as Caerleon , are also low-lying. The eastern outskirts of the city are characterised by the gently rolling hills of
2668-509: Is the cathedral of the Diocese of Monmouth . The original Welsh name for the city was Casnewydd-ar-Wysg (pronounced [kasˈnɛwɪð ar ˈwɪsk] ). This is a contraction of the name Castell Newydd ar Wysg , which translates as 'new castle on the Usk'. The Welsh name is recorded in the Brut y Tywysogion when it was visited by Henry II of England sometime around 1172. "New castle" suggests
2784-489: The 2011 census , 89.9% described themselves as White, 5.5% Asian, 1.7% Black, 1.1% Mixed White/Black, 0.5% Mixed White/Asian and 1.4% as other ethnic groups. In the 2021 census, Whites had decreased to 85.6% of the population while all other groups increased bar Black Caribbeans. Benjamin Outram Benjamin Outram (1 April 1764 – 22 May 1805) was an English civil engineer , surveyor and industrialist. He
2900-570: The 2022 Newport City Council election with 35 seats, ahead of the Conservative Party with 7 seats. The Labour Party lost control of Newport council in the 2008 local elections to a Conservative/ Liberal Democrat coalition but the Labour Party regained an overall majority of councillors in the 2012 election until the present day. In the Senedd (Welsh Parliament), Newport is divided between
3016-451: The Board of Trade was called in to adjudicate. In fact Simmons reviewed the whole of the company's proposed operation, and on 28 April 1849 they received his judgment. He was critical of the combination rail and wheel arrangement, and he recommended that "proper" railway track should be used, laid adjacent to the existing tramplate to allow for continued operation during the conversion. He wanted
3132-613: The Brexit Party . The official blazon of the armorial bearings is: "(arms) Or, a chevron reversed gules, the shield ensigned by a cherub proper. Supporters: on the dexter side a winged sea lion Or, and on the sinister side a sea dragon gules, the nether parts of both proper, finned gold." The title of Freedom of Newport is a ceremonial honour, given by the Newport council to those who have served in some exceptional capacity, or upon any whom Newport wishes to bestow an honour. There have been 17 individuals or organisations that have received
3248-554: The M4 corridor high-technology cluster. It was granted city status in 2002. The Celtic Manor Resort in Newport hosted the Ryder Cup in 2010 and was the venue for the 2014 NATO summit . The city contains extensive rural areas surrounding the built-up core . Its villages are of considerable archaeological importance. Newport Cathedral is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Monmouth and
3364-544: The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal . He predicted within a few years of their introduction that railways would become the principal mode of transport. In 1799 he wrote, while building the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal railway at four-foot two-inch gauge, "it appears that many hogsheads and packages require carriages . . . wider than those at Derby and Crich" and "it seems desirable that all extensive railways should be of
3480-585: The Port of Cardiff (which included Cardiff, Penarth and Barry ), Newport was the place where the Miners' Federation of Great Britain was founded in 1889, and international trade was sufficiently large for 8 consuls and 14 vice-consuls to be based in the town. In 1898 Lysaght's Orb Works opened and by 1901 employed 3,000 staff. Urban expansion took in Pillgwenlly and Lliswerry to the south; this eventually necessitated
3596-503: The Senedd constituencies of Newport East and Newport West and elects one Member of the Senedd (MS) in each constituency. In the 2021 Senedd election , the Labour Party retained both Newport East and Newport West. In Senedd elections the Labour Party has held both the Newport East and Newport West constituencies since the constituencies were created in 1999. In UK General Elections
Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company - Misplaced Pages Continue
3712-583: The Vale of Usk and Christchurch has panoramic views of the Vale of Usk and the Bristol Channel . Ridgeway at Allt-yr-yn also has good views of the surrounding areas and Bristol Channel. Brynglas has views over the city centre and Twmbarlwm to the west. The suburbs of the city have grown outwards from the inner-city, mostly near the main roads, giving the suburban sprawl of the city an irregular shape. The urban area
3828-609: The 19th century when its port became the focus of coal exports from the eastern South Wales Valleys . Newport was the largest coal exporter in Wales until the rise of Cardiff in the mid-1800s. Newport was the site of the last large-scale armed insurrection in Great Britain , the Newport Rising of 1839. In the 20th century, the docks declined in importance, but Newport remained an important centre for manufacturing and engineering . Latterly its economy has been bolstered as part of
3944-564: The 22 miles of the connecting Rumney Tramroad, and 14 miles of the Sirhowy Tramroad. Some of the curves were sharper than 15 feet radius, an impossibility under locomotive operation. The work involved closure of part of the upper end of the canal; the Pontnewynydd to Pontypool section was closed in 1849, and Pontypool to Pontymoile in 1853. The company engineer, Edward Barber, designed a combination tramplate which provided an edge rail, and
4060-646: The Canal Parade, on the Western Valley section, was made in April 1854. Another new railway branch line connecting the east side of the dock with the Western, Eastern and Hereford lines was also made. Access to this east side over the canal was achieved by the installation of three lift bridges for the railway, leading on to the banks of sidings storing the full and empty wagons which serviced the dock. Newport, Wales Newport ( Welsh : Casnewydd [kasˈnɛwɨð] )
4176-915: The City of Newport is in two UK Parliament constituencies . Due to boundary changes the Newport West constituency was renamed Newport West and Islwyn for the 2024 United Kingdom general election . In 2024 the Labour Party won both the expanded Newport East constituency and the new Newport West and Islwyn constituency. Until 2024 The City of Newport was divided between the UK Parliament constituencies of Newport East and Newport West and elected one Member of Parliament (MP) in each constituency. The Labour Party held Newport East since constituency boundaries were redrawn in 1983 and held Newport West since 1987. The city formerly had only one constituency Newport (Monmouthshire) (UK Parliament constituency) until 1983 when
4292-635: The Derby Canal was the Little Eaton Gangway , a feeder for the Derby Canal built on the pattern of that at Crich. Such tramways became an important part of his later canals. A common misconception is that the word "tramway" comes from Outram's surname but the word actually derives from the Low German word "traam" meaning "a beam" (of a wheelbarrow). Outram always referred to tramways as railways. Outram
4408-531: The Derby Canal, which opened in February 1796 and was one of the first cast-iron aqueducts. It was cast by Benjamin Outram & Company and predated Longdon-on-Tern Aqueduct , Thomas Telford's longer aqueduct on the Shrewsbury Canal at Longdon-on-Tern by one month. It proved troublesome and needed substantial remedial work in 1802, 1812 and 1930, eventually being demolished in 1971. An important extension to
4524-517: The Great Western design of bridge rail which the South Wales Railway was laying on its line through Newport. The rail weighed 120 lbs. to the yard, and was described as a kind of rail and tramplate combined in such a way that neither would interfere with the other, but would allow the present antiquated trams and the locomotive engines to travel with perfect safety and ease. David Jones,
4640-483: The Metropolitan Cathedral of Wales, as it had when previous Bishops of Monmouth were elected Archbishop. In 1850 Newport was recognised as a centre of Catholicism in Wales when the Diocese of Newport and Menevia was created. Between 21 October 1966 and 6 October 1969, having retired as Bishop of Rochester , New York , Fulton J. Sheen , an American bishop who pioneered preaching on television and radio ,
4756-636: The Monmouthshire Canal Navigation Company to make additional wharves on the banks of the River Usk to enable cargoes to be transferred to ships for export. The canal was to be extended a mile and a quarter down the river from Llanarth Street, the original termination, to Pillgwenlly ; the cost was said to be £100,000. Work was begun in 1806. Passengers were carried on the Monmouthshire plateway lines from 1822. They were carried on specially constructed vehicles operated by independent carriers. John Kingson operated his horse-drawn omnibus from
Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company - Misplaced Pages Continue
4872-515: The Newport and Pontypool line was authorised in Parliament, the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway had also received its authorisation. That company had intended to build a line throughout from Newport, but Parliament objected to the building of two railways between Newport and Pontypool along pretty much the same ground, and obliged the NA&HR to use the Monmouthshire's line to reach Newport from
4988-641: The Scottish brothers Alex and Peter Campbell on the River Clyde , but was re-located to the Severn Estuary. Departing steamers would face south on Davis Wharf, with the Art College to its left and the town bridge behind. The boats gave rise to the name of the short street which led to the quayside – Screwpacket Road. By 1955 steamers had stopped calling at Newport and P & A Campbell went into receivership in 1959. It
5104-560: The Tredegar Arms at Newport to Tredegar; his carriage was nicknamed the "Caravan" and ran twice weekly, Kingson paying tolls along the route. A man called Samuel Homfray soon joined Kingson with services from other towns to Newport. The transit from the ironworks to Newport was slow and expensive, as each wagon was accompanied by a horse and driver. The employment of steam locomotives elsewhere had been beneficial, and Samuel Homfray and his engineer Thomas Ellis were interested in using one at
5220-638: The Tredegar works. A locomotive was ordered from Robert Stephenson of Killingworth for trials. The locomotive, named Britannia , started work in October 1829, and the following December made its first journey to Newport. A newspaper reported: It was confidently stated for some weeks past that the Tredegar Iron Company... were to start a locomotive engine the day of the Cattle Show, on Thursday last, to bring
5336-592: The Usk River, not a great distance below the town of Newport, close to the termination of the Rumney and Sirhowey Railroads: passing on in a direction nearly full north and leaving Newport to the east, the canal extends by Pontypool to Pontnewynydd, a distance of more than seventeen miles and three-quarters. Near this place it connects with the Abergavenny and Brecknock Canal. In its course it passes Malpas opposite which at Crindau
5452-482: The Western Valley Line was sustained by the continued operation of British Steel's works at Ebbw Vale . A passenger service from Ebbw Vale to Cardiff was resumed on 6 February 2008. For centuries the mineral wealth of Monmouthshire had been exploited, especially in the manufacture of iron; the necessary raw materials were all at hand: coal, ironstone, limestone, and timber. This availability encouraged technical innovation, and this in turn led to considerable progress in
5568-454: The act was passed. There was a considerable fall from the top of the canal to Newport: the Pontnewynydd arm descended 447 feet, using 42 locks; there were two tunnels. The Crumlin arm descended 358 feet to Crindau, and required 31 locks. Reservoirs had to be created at the heads of the canal to ensure a reliable water supply. The main arm of the canal opened in 1796, and by this time tramroads had already been constructed in readiness connecting
5684-471: The borough was incorporated into the new local government county of Gwent until Newport became a unitary authority again in 1996. Gwent remains in use for ceremonial functions as a preserved county . Newport was historically industrialised with a large working class population and strong support for the Labour Party . Newport City Council consists of 53 elected councillors. The Labour Party won
5800-496: The canal was 11 miles in length. The canal was authorised by the Monmouthshire Canal Navigation Act 1792 ( 32 Geo. 3 . c. 102), and the act included permission to build connecting tramways or plateways (or alternatively "stone roads") to pits within seven miles of the canal, and to raise £120,000. The estimated cost was £106,000, and such was the enthusiasm for the scheme that the capital was all subscribed before
5916-485: The carriers themselves. Early in 1845 an accommodation was reached between the canal company and the promoters of the railway; the canal company would promote the necessary railway themselves. The Monmouthshire Canal Navigation got the Newport and Pontypool Railway Act 1845 ( 8 & 9 Vict. c. clxix), authorising it to build the Newport and Pontypool Railway, to use locomotives and become sole carriers. Authorised capital
SECTION 50
#17328527524626032-686: The castle the next day. A cannonball dug up from a garden in nearby Summerhill Avenue, dating from this time, now rests in Newport Museum . As the Industrial Revolution transformed Britain in the 19th century, the South Wales Valleys became key suppliers of coal from the South Wales Coalfield , and iron . These were transported down local rivers and the new canals to ports such as Newport, and Newport Docks grew rapidly as
6148-446: The centre of the city. A pub in the city centre was named "The Tom Toya Lewis" in his honour, but closed in 2021. The building in which the pub was housed was formerly the Newport YMCA , the foundation stone for which was laid by Viscount Tredegar in 1909. From 1893 the town was served by the paddle steamers of P & A Campbell Ltd. (the "White Funnel Line"), which was based in Bristol. The company had originally been set up by
6264-421: The centre of the town, where chartists were being held prisoner, with some of the chartists being armed. Shooting began between the chartists and the 45th Regiment of Foot , which had been called to the town by the Mayor, Thomas Phillips, to assist the police. At least 20 chartists were killed and were later buried in Saint Woolos churchyard . Thomas Philips and three of those in the hotel were wounded. John Frost
6380-438: The city was split into Newport East and Newport West due to population growth. Prior to Brexit in 2020, Newport was part of the Wales European Parliament Constituency . The Wales constituency elected four Members of the European Parliament (MEP) on a Proportional representation basis. In the 2019 European Parliament election the Wales constituency elected one MEP from the Labour Party , one from Plaid Cymru and two from
6496-416: The committee at £200 a share... Among the conditions of purchase it was left to the Canal Company to take shares in the railway in lieu of the purchase money... The Canal Company had not yet given notice of the number of shares that it might be their intention to take... Although the purchase had been authorised, the Monmouthshire Railway Company failed to raise the cash it needed for the purchase. The purchase
6612-406: The company built a tramway from Nine Mile Point, west of Risca , to Newport, and an associated company, the Sirhowy Tramroad, connected from Tredegar . Steam locomotives were used from 1829. By 1850 pressure was mounting to modernise the line, and in 1848 an act of Parliament authorised conversion to a modern railway, construction of a new railway from Newport to Pontypool, and a change of name for
6728-620: The company to the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company. The high volume of mineral activity in the area kept the company in good financial health for many years, but it failed to keep abreast of competing developments, and faced with unforeseen major loss of business it sold the rights to operate its network to the Great Western Railway in 1875. The GWR developed the network, until in the period after 1918 road competition increasingly abstracted passenger and non-mineral goods traffic. Passenger operation ceased in 1962. The Eastern Valley Line closed completely south of Cwmbran Junction in 1963, but
6844-402: The company was obliged to proceed with the work. By 1 August 1849 it appeared that opening to locomotive operation could take place. In fact eight new locomotives were delivered shortly before the proposed inauguration, but the combination tramplates were to be used. The locomotives were so heavy at about 20 tons, that widespread breakage of the new tram-plates took place, causing serious damage to
6960-443: The construction of the Severn Bridge and local sections of the M4 motorway in the late 1960s, making Newport the best-connected place in Wales. Although employment at Llanwern steelworks declined in the 1980s, the town acquired a range of new public sector employers, and a Richard Rogers –designed Inmos microprocessor factory helped to establish Newport as a centre for technology companies. A flourishing local music scene in
7076-461: The early 1990s led to claims that the town was "a new Seattle ". The county borough of Newport was granted city status in 2002 to mark Queen Elizabeth II 's Golden Jubilee . In the same year, an unusually large merchant ship, referred to locally as the Newport Ship , was uncovered and rescued from the west bank of the River Usk during the construction of the Riverfront Arts Centre . The ship has been dated to between 1445 and 1469 and remains
SECTION 60
#17328527524627192-436: The eastern side of the Rhymney Valley it joined the Monmouthshire Tramway at Tydu (later named Bassaleg ), and ran along the Park Mile. It was completed in 1836, and a further five carriers started to use the line, which was becoming seriously congested. New locomotives had to be ordered for the Western Valley Line; the first was received from Grylls of Llanelly during December 1848. It weighed nearly 20 tons, more than double
7308-400: The existing canal there. This time the line would have "all convenient turnouts" (passing loops) and "if required to construct double rail". In addition Outram recommended further reservoir capacity for the canal, and conversion of all the existing tramroad connections to plateways, in which the rails are L-shaped plates, the vertical flange providing the guidance to unflanged wheels; the gauge
7424-457: The existing lines, and improving the canal. The Sirhowy Tramroad Company would be formed to build the majority of the new line from Tredegar as far as a location nine miles from Newport, later named Nine Mile Point. The canal company was to build its own tramway from there to a terminus at Llanarth Street in Newport, at the canal basin. The line passed through the estate of Sir Charles Morgan , later Lord Tredegar, and he reserved tolls for himself on
7540-402: The extra funds needed to complete construction of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal . In 1798, he was retained to complete the final section of the Ashton Canal which included the Store Street Aqueduct , among the first to solve the problem of skew arches . Outram also built railways for the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal such as the Ticknall Tramway and was asked to advise on railways for
7656-428: The fertile estuary of the River Usk and later the Celtic Silures built hillforts overlooking it. In AD 75, on the very edge of their empire, the Roman legions built a Roman fort at Caerleon to defend the river crossing. According to legend, in the late 5th century Saint Gwynllyw (Woolos), the patron saint of Newport and King of Gwynllwg founded the church which would become Newport Cathedral . The church
7772-420: The first Norman Lord of Newport was Robert Fitzhamon . The original Newport Castle was a small motte-and-bailey castle in the park opposite Newport Cathedral. It was buried in rubble excavated from the Hillfield railway tunnels that were dug under Stow Hill in the 1840s and no part of it is currently visible. Around the settlement, the new town grew to become Newport, obtaining its first charter in 1314 and
7888-428: The furnaces of Trosnant, Blaendare and Blaenavon to the line of the canal. When the Crumlin arm was ready, corresponding tramroad connections led to it from Beaufort , Sorwy, Nantyglo and Aberbeeg . In fact, the numerous short tramroad connections exceeded in aggregate length the extent of the canal to which they led. Priestley described the route of the canal: This canal and its branches and railroads commence in
8004-419: The honour since 1909, including: Newport is located 138 mi (222 km) west of London and 12 mi (19 km) east of Cardiff . It is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent . The City of Newport, which includes rural areas as well as the built up area, is the sixth most populous unitary authority in Wales. The city
8120-416: The hospital lived on in the place name " Spytty Fields " (a corruption of ysbyty , the Welsh for hospital). "Austin Friars" also remains a street name in the city. During the Last War for Welsh Independence in 1402 Rhys Gethin , General for Owain Glyndŵr , forcibly took Newport Castle together with those at Cardiff, Llandaff, Abergavenny, Caerphilly, Caerleon and Usk. During the raid the town of Newport
8236-417: The inaction of the Monmouthshire Company, and they decided that the solution was a new railway for both passengers and goods: the Newport and Nantyglo Railway, soon retitled the Monmouthshire Railway . The proprietors of the Monmouthshire Canal Navigation themselves proposed a railway to head off the competitive threat, and to alter all their tramroads to "make them suitable for locomotive haulage" and to become
8352-439: The independent users would be allowed three months by the company to alter their stock. Dock Street station in Newport was brought into use on 4 August 1852 as the terminus for the Western Valley traffic; the temporary station at Courtybella was now closed. The Eastern Valley too received an improved Newport terminal: on 9 March 1852 the line was opened from Marshes Turnpike Gate to Mill Street. A new branch line from Pill Bank to
8468-430: The industry. The iron production took place some distance from the coast, and transport away to a point of use was exceedingly difficult and expensive. Industrialists in the area combined to finance the construction of a canal from Pontnewynydd , a little north-west of Pontypool, to Newport, and a second arm from near Crumlin, through Rogerstone to join the first arm of the canal at Crindau, close to Newport. Each arm of
8584-467: The iron from the Works to this port [Newport], a distance of twenty-four miles. The persons assembled at the Cattle Show (which was close to the tram-road) were looking anxiously for the steam-engine, but it did not make its appearance. The engine did, however, start from the Works early in the morning, but unfortunately, at one of the crossings in the tramroad... the wheels got out of the tram-plates, which caused
8700-543: The issue turned acrimonious. A Committee of Investigation was appointed on 5 April 1851, and several directors lost their seats as a result. Work was now resumed and carried forward swiftly, and after an inspection Captain Simmons on 14 June 1852, the Newport and Pontypool Railway was opened to traffic on Wednesday 30 June 1852, from a temporary terminus at Marshes Turnpike Gate, Newport to the Crane Street station at Pontypool. It
8816-551: The locomotive caused many of the tramplates to break, and the company set about adapting their track by installing more substantial plates; nearly 1,000 tons of tramplates were ordered from the Coalbrook Vale and Nant-y-glo Ironworks. Mr Prothero of Newport ordered a locomotive from Price and Co. of Neath Abbey, to convey coal from his collieries at Blancyffin Isha to Pillgwenlly. The engine was delivered on 16 July 1830 and on 25 July made
8932-401: The locomotives in addition. The company reverted to horse traction, and the intended passenger service was abandoned. To ease the situation, Crawshay Bailey of Nantyglo offered them 2,000 tons of urgently needed rails, valued at £10,000, in exchange for an equivalent value of shares in the company. The new rails were of a completely different design to Barber's combination rail, and similar to
9048-454: The market at this time and Francis Beresford, solicitor to the canal company, bought the freehold of the hall and its estate. He leased it on a moiety to Outram until the latter had acquired enough capital for a fifty per cent holding. This was the beginning of the ironworks, ' Benjamin Outram & Company ' which began trading in 1790. The following year William Jessop and John Wright, a Nottingham banker, also became partners. Starting with
9164-703: The mile of route through his land; this lucrative arrangement became known as "the Park Mile" or "the Golden Mile". The Monmouthshire Canal Navigation Company was by now authorised to raise a total capital of £275,330. The whole of the Monmouthshire Canal section was double track, and there was a large viaduct of 32 arches at Risca; the whole Monmouthshire Canal Navigation Company line cost £32,000. The wagons were conveyed in trains of 15 or so drawn by five or six horses. The Monmouthshire Canal Navigation Act 1802 allowed
9280-453: The mining towns of the South Wales Valleys . Despite the economic conditions, the council re-housed over half the population in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1930 the Town Dock was filled in. The post-war years saw renewed prosperity, with Saint Woolos' Cathedral (now Newport Cathedral ) attaining full cathedral status in 1949, the opening of the modern integrated Llanwern steelworks in 1962, and
9396-427: The name Newport and the reason for its wide adoption remains the subject of debate. Newport-on-Usk is found on some early maps, and the name was in popular usage well before the development of Newport Docks . One theory suggests that Newport gained favour with medieval maritime traders on the Usk, as it differentiated the "New port" from the " Old Roman port " at Caerleon . Bronze Age fishermen settled around
9512-467: The nearby ports of Bristol and Bridgwater and industries included leather tanning, soap making and starch making. The town's craftsmen included bakers, butchers, brewers, carpenters and blacksmiths. A further charter was granted by James I in 1623. During the English Civil War in 1648 Oliver Cromwell 's troops camped overnight on Christchurch Hill overlooking the town before their attack on
9628-420: The new Company Engineer worked quickly, applying himself fully to the whole of the Western Valley section. Tenders were invited for booking offices and waiting rooms at Crumlin, Aberbeeg, Cwmtillery, Blaina and Ebbw Vale. Additional tenders were also invited for extra wagons suitable for carrying hay, straw, pitwood and coke. Towards the end of 1850 the whole of the line had been re-laid on wooden sleepers, and at
9744-689: The new church were held. By July 1879 the decline in Welsh-speaking in the town led to a change in the services from Welsh to English. In September 1993, the Charles Street congregation joined with Ebbw Bridge Baptist Church, Newport, and the Charles Street Chapel closed. In the 2011 census 56.8% of Newport residents considered themselves Christian , 4.7% Muslim , 1.2% Other religions (including Hindu , Buddhist , Sikh , Jewish and Others), 29.7% were non-religious and 7.5% chose not to answer
9860-456: The non-compulsory religion question on the census. Newport has more than 50 churches, 7 mosques , and one synagogue ; the nearest Gurudwara is in Cardiff. The Church in Wales church of St Julius and St Aaron, at St Julian's, was consecrated in 1926. The following table shows the religious identity of residents residing in Newport according to the 2001, 2011 and the 2021 censuses. In
9976-429: The only vessel of its type from this period yet discovered anywhere in the world. Newport has long been the largest town in the historic county of Monmouthshire and a county borough between 1891 and 1974. The Local Government Act 1972 removed ambiguity about the legal status of the area by including the administrative county of Monmouthshire and the county borough of Newport into all acts pertaining to Wales. In 1974,
10092-563: The overnight temperature fell to −16.1 °C (3.0 °F) the coldest temperature for the whole of the UK during that year, and the latest date in spring the UK's lowest temperature has been recorded. In 1929 St Woolos Church became the Pro-Cathedral of the Diocese of Monmouth , becoming a full cathedral in 1949. When Rowan Williams was appointed Archbishop of Wales in 2000, the Cathedral became
10208-481: The preachers John Hier, and his subordinate James Edmunds, both from Bethesda, to preach to them there. They later moved to a larger room in Charles Street. In 1816 a meeting at the Castleton Baptist Association agreed to build the first Welsh Baptist Chapel in Newport. Land was acquired in Charles Street, with the help of a bequest from Newport tailor John Williams. In May 1817 the opening services of
10324-402: The railway fenced, and level crossing gates and signalling to be provided. All the wagons in use were unsuitable for a passenger carrying railway, and they had to be replaced with those of an approved type, with wrought iron wheels, springs and buffers. A similar report had been received by the canal company in 1847, so that it was impossible to claim lack of knowledge of the recommendations, and
10440-630: The rest of Monmouthshire came to be seen as "un-Welsh", a view compounded by ambiguity about the status of Monmouthshire . In the 19th century, the St George Society of Newport (a group largely consisting of English settlers and businessmen) asserted that the town was part of England. It was at a meeting in Newport, attended by future Prime Minister David Lloyd George , that the Cymru Fydd movement received its death-blow in 1896 when politician Robert Bird stated: "You will find, from Swansea to Newport,
10556-481: The sharp curves the new type of rail was laid, and the curves eased. Captain Laffan inspected the line on 15 October 1850, and at last the opening for passenger operation was approved. The work in the Western Valley had cost £136,000, and the line opened for passenger traffic on 23 December 1850. Initially there were two passenger trains a day in each direction. In fact at the half-yearly shareholders' meeting on 15 May 1850 it
10672-400: The single line tramroads: empty wagons were manhandled off the track to allow loaded wagons to pass them. A supplementary act of Parliament was secured on 30 May 1798 to allow for loading facilities at the ship berths in Newport. In April 1799 the whole project was said to be complete, and nearly 44,000 tons of material were conveyed in 1798 alone. The project was hugely successful, and there
10788-485: The town council to street running. An application was made in 1852 within a parliamentary bill to stop up the canal from the Mill Pond to Potter Street lock near the dock, and to seek more capital. A total of £200,000 was required to complete the conversion in the Western Valley, to provide a depot for carriages, locomotives and other stock, together with all the necessary buildings, workshops and essential machinery. The bill
10904-399: The tramroads was 3 ft 4in, and it was constructed of edge rails of a plain cross-section 2 inches wide at the head and 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches wide at the base, and three inches deep. The wagon wheels were double flanged, straddling the rail. Cast iron sleepers maintained the gauge, and these were supported on square wooden blocks laid on stone chippings. There were no passing places on
11020-528: The two onward routes. On 4 August 1852 Dock Street station at Newport was brought into use, and the temporary terminus at Court-y-Bella was closed. The operation of the tramroad gave an enormous boost to the efficiency of the coal and iron industries, but of course only in the areas of the Western Valley that it served. Important works and pits in the Eastern Valley were at a competitive disadvantage. The ironmasters of Eastern Monmouthshire were frustrated with
11136-422: The weight of any locomotive previously seen on the Western Valley lines. With the company absolved from the supply of mineral wagons, it now published a specification for the carriers' wagons so that they could operate together in trains, as few of the existing wagons were compatible with each other. The carriers had 4,000 wagons between them and there was a protest at the cost of converting them. Captain Simmons of
11252-459: The year, Atlantic storms give significant rainfall in the autumn, these gradually becoming rarer towards the end of winter. Autumn and summer have often been the wettest seasons in recent times. Snow falls in most winters and sometimes settles on the ground, usually melting within a few days. Newport records few days with gales compared to most of Wales, again due to its sheltered location. Frosts are common from October to May. On 20 March 1930,
11368-514: Was a line slightly over 1 mile (1.6 km) in length, built to carry limestone from quarries at Crich to Bullbridge Wharf on the Cromford Canal , for use by his works. In 1792 he became engineer for the Nottingham Canal and in 1793 the Derby Canal , working in the meantime on the Nutbrook Canal . One of his major works was the 44 feet (13 m) long single-span Holmes Aqueduct on
11484-556: Was a pioneer in the building of canals and tramways. Born at Alfreton in Derbyshire, he began his career assisting his father Joseph Outram , who described himself as an "agriculturalist", but was also a land agent, an enclosure commissioner arbitrating in the many disputes which arose from the inclosure acts , an advisor on land management, a surveyor for new mines and served as a turnpike trustee. In 1792 his neighbour George Morewood died and left his estates to Ellen Morewood . She
11600-519: Was announced that "as regards the western valleys the whole of the goods and mineral traffic is now conveyed by means of locomotive power". With the passenger service to Blaina opened, improvements to the Beaufort branch from Aberbeeg Junction to Ebbw Vale were started, and sixteen months later, on 19 April 1852, a passenger service from Court-y-Bella to Ebbw Vale began. There were now three passenger trains daily from Newport, dividing at Aberbeeg Junction for
11716-660: Was appointed the titular archbishop of Newport by Pope Paul VI . The Catholic St Patrick's Church was served by the Rosminians until the 2010s. The foundation of the Charles Street Baptist Church was mainly the project of three women who had been members of Bethesda Baptist Chapel in Rogerstone , which was first built in 1742. In 1807 a Mrs Samuel and her friends rented a room in John Rowe's house on Stow Hill and asked
11832-435: Was approved, allowing the money to be raised by the issuing of £150,000 of new share stock. The railway link between Mill St and Dock Street stations was authorised; the section of canal there was to be closed, and any carrier had the right to demand free carriage from the new canal terminus to the dock by the company in compensation for the loss of the canal section. All the existing tramroads had to be converted to edge rail and
11948-409: Was badly burned and Saint Woolos church destroyed. A third charter, establishing the right of the town to run its own market and commerce came from Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham in 1426. By 1521, Newport was described as having "....a good haven coming into it, well occupied with small crays [merchant ships] where a very great ship may resort and have good harbour." Trade was thriving with
12064-505: Was certainly in existence by the 9th century and today has become the seat of the Bishop of Monmouth . In 1049/50, a fleet of Orkney Vikings, under Welsh king Gruffydd ap Llywelyn , sailed up the Usk and sacked St Gwynllyw's church. The church suffered a similar fate in 1063, when Harold Godwinson attacked south Wales. The Normans arrived from around 1088–1093 to build the first Newport Castle and river crossing downstream from Caerleon and
12180-469: Was granted a second one, by Hugh Stafford, 2nd Earl of Stafford in 1385 (the Newport coat of arms reflects those of the Staffords: theirs was a red chevron - pointing upwards- on a gold field, Newport's is a red chevron reversed - pointing downward - on the same background.) In the 14th century Augustinian friars came to Newport where they built an isolation hospital for infectious diseases. After its closure
12296-710: Was held [on 11 September 1846]... After congratulating the proprietors on obtaining the Act of Parliament, which received the Royal Assent on 13 August last, [the Managing Committee report] referred to the present state and future prospects of the Company. One of the objects which they had started was the purchase of Monmouthshire Canal Company, which beside its own course, had a connexion with some 50 or 60 miles of tramway travelling throughout its district. This canal had been purchased by
12412-459: Was immediate demand for connecting other mineral sites, in particular at Tredegar and in the Sirhowy Valley. Extension of the canal was a possibility, although difficulties had already been experienced with shortage of water, and with ice blockage of the canal in winter. The engineer Benjamin Outram was called in to advise. He proposed a new line of plateway from Tredegar to Risca Church, joining
12528-612: Was mining under Outram land. Over the next nine years the Outrams engaged in a legal battle with her. Land had been sold to them by the Morewoods but Ellen believed that she still had the rights to the coal and ironstone beneath them. James and Benjamin Outram disagreed and they appealed and in 1803 the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench , Lord Ellenborough agreed with them. In 1803 he had
12644-455: Was not completed, and the powers lapsed. The ironmasters who had agitated for the Eastern Valley section of railway were displeased at the delay: work on the Pontypool to Newport line had been abandoned in the panic of 1847, while they had spent considerable sums on their pits and works in anticipation. The so-called Cardwell Clause in all Railway Acts enabled them to demand the completion of lines for which parliamentary powers had been given, and
12760-406: Was reported that "The extent of the railway is 8 miles of single track; the rails are 'Double T', weight 70 lbs. to the yard, on transverse sleepers 9 ft. long × 5ins. deep and 10ins. wide." There were six stations, the additional ones being Llantarnam and the temporary terminus at Marshes Turnpike Gate, Newport. Initially there were three passenger trains run each way. On the same day that
12876-407: Was sentenced to death for treason, but this was later commuted to transportation to Australia. He returned to Britain (but not to Newport) later in his life. John Frost Square (1977), in the centre of the city, is named in his honour. Newport probably had a Welsh-speaking majority until the 1830s, but with a large influx of migrants from England and Ireland over the following decades, the town and
12992-515: Was taken over by the firm which would become the Townsend Ferry group. Compared to many Welsh towns, Newport's economy had a broad base, with foundries, engineering works, a cattle market and shops that served much of Monmouthshire. However, the docks were in decline even before the Great Depression , and local unemployment peaked at 34.7% in 1930: high, but not as bad as the levels seen in
13108-626: Was the consulting engineer for the construction of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal , which included the pioneering Standedge Canal Tunnel . In 1794 he was the engineer for the Peak Forest Canal , which included the Marple Aqueduct . The climb from Bugsworth was negotiated by the 6 miles (9.7 km) Peak Forest Tramway . Stodhart Tunnel on this tramway is believed to be the first railway tunnel in Derbyshire. In 1796 he reported on
13224-443: Was to be 4 ft 2in. The canal company accepted his recommendations, and this was formalised on 18 December 1800. The work was authorised by act of Parliament, the Monmouthshire Canal Navigation Act 1802 ( 42 Geo. 3 . c. cxv), of 26 June 1802, although by that time a modification had been decided upon. Instead of the Monmouthshire Canal Navigation Company building the whole of the new plateway, it would concentrate on conversion of
13340-610: Was to be prohibited when passenger operation started. In 1846 a new entity, the Monmouthshire Railway Company , obtained an act of Parliament, the Monmouthshire Railway Act 1846 ( 9 & 10 Vict. c. ccclxxi) giving them the authority to purchase the entire works of the Monmouthshire Canal system, including all the railways; The First General Meeting of the Monmouthshire Railway Company
13456-572: Was £119,000. The act required it to make the new railway to standard gauge and to convert the whole of the Western Valley system to that gauge as well, except the Rassa, Blaendare and Cwmffrwd Tramroads, and to provide all the rolling stock for mineral traffic. To retain income during the conversion, the canal company had to find some way of allowing existing services to run while the work was being done. The company owned some 30 miles of tramroad, but there were just as many miles under private ownership, as well as
#461538