Newport ( cy, Trefdraeth, meaning: "town by the beach") is a town,
parish
A parish is a territorial entity in many Christian denominations, constituting a division within a diocese. A parish is under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of a priest, often termed a parish priest, who might be assisted by one o ...
,
community
A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, ...
,
electoral ward and ancient port of ''Parrog'', on the
Pembrokeshire coast in
West Wales at the mouth of the
River Nevern
The River Nevern ( cy, Afon Nyfer) is a river in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Its source is north of the village of Crymych and its length is about to its estuary at Newport, Pembrokeshire.
Course
The source of the river is a spring on the southwest ...
( cy, Afon Nyfer) in the
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park ( cy, Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro) is a national park along the Pembrokeshire coast in west Wales.
It was established as a National Park in 1952. It is one of three national parks in Wales, the others b ...
.
A popular tourist destination, Newport town straddles the
Fishguard
Fishguard ( cy, Abergwaun, meaning "Mouth of the River Gwaun") is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with a population of 3,419 in 2011; the community of Fishguard and Goodwick had a population of 5,407. Modern Fishguard consists of two p ...
to
Cardigan (A487) road, while the old port area hosts beach, water and other activities.
History
The town was founded by the
Norman William FitzMartin (c. 1155 – 1209) in about 1197. He was a son-in-law of
the Lord Rhys, who nevertheless expelled him from his former base at nearby
Nevern, which had been established by his father
Robert fitz Martin. William founded Newport as the new capital of the
Marcher Lordship of
Cemais and it was a busy port founded primarily on the growing medieval wool trade. Despite seizure from the native Welsh, it remained within the
FitzMartin family until the death of William, the 2nd Lord Martin, who died without a male heir in 1326.
Newport Castle
Newport Castle ( cy, Castell Casnewydd) is a ruined castle in Newport, Wales. It was built in the 14th century, probably by Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester or his son-in-law, Ralph, Earl of Stafford, with the purpose of managing the c ...
, built by FitzMartin, is situated on a spur of
Carn Ingli which overlooks Newport and much of the surrounding countryside. Though in ruins since at least the 17th century, it is impressive due to its situation; a house incorporating the castle walls, which faces west over the town, the bay and the
Irish Sea
The Irish Sea or , gv, Y Keayn Yernagh, sco, Erse Sie, gd, Muir Èireann , Ulster-Scots: ''Airish Sea'', cy, Môr Iwerddon . is an extensive body of water that separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is linked to the Ce ...
, is still inhabited.
In the town is a significant mediaeval pottery kiln from the 15th century, believed to be the only intact example in Britain; finds include jugs, pots, ridge tiles and distilling equipment. Excavation was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2017.
Newport appears prominently on a 1578 parish map of Pembrokeshire, and is a former
marcher borough.
George Owen of Henllys, in 1603, described it as one of five Pembrokeshire boroughs overseen by a
portreeve
A portreeve ( ang, hæfenrēfa, sometimes spelled Port-reeve) or port warden is the title of a historical official in England and Wales possessing authority (political, administrative, or fiscal) over a town. The details of the office have fluctu ...
. It retains some of the borough customs such as electing a mayor, who
beats the bounds on horseback every August.
In the 1880s the castle was associated with
John Brett, who rented it for his large family while he spent summers cruising the south and west coasts of Wales painting, sketching and photographing. He moored his 210-ton
schooner, ''Viking'' (which had a crew of twelve) at Parrog. A lifeboat station (now a private residence) was operated from a beach known as The Cwm to the west of Parrog in the early 20th century.
Governance
At the local level, the electorate of the community elects up to eleven town councillors to Newport Town Council, who meet monthly.
Newport is also an
electoral ward to
Pembrokeshire County Council
Pembrokeshire County Council ( cy, Cyngor Sir Penfro) is the governing body for Pembrokeshire, one of the Principal Areas of Wales.
Political control
The first election to the council was held in 1995, initially operating as a shadow authori ...
, electing one county councillor. Like many wards in the county, Newport has been represented by
Independent
Independent or Independents may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups
* Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s
* Independ ...
councillors with no party affiliation.
Areas
Town
Newport town has a compact but varied shopping centre with most facilities including a post office, a wide range of retail premises and ancient buildings including the castle (not open to the public), which is undergoing restoration work.
Parrog
The old port area contains much of historic interest, including some of the old quay walls and two former lime kilns. There are moorings for small craft and a number of holiday lets and eating places. It is possible, with caution, to cross the river on foot at low tide. Parrog has two beaches, a golf course, a windsurfing and dinghy sailing club, pubs, hotels and camping grounds.
Listed buildings
In the community, there are more than 60 listed buildings.
Amenities
Worship
The church of St Mary's, situated below the castle though within the town, dates from the FitzMartin era, and the outside east apse bears their arms (''"Argent, two bars gules"''). The church was the subject of an 1860 photograph by notable early Welsh photographer
John Thomas (1838–1905).
Other religious buildings include Bethlehem Chapel and the Tabernacle Chapel.
Hostelries
The town's hostelries include Llwyngwair Arms in the centre of town and
Cnapan Hotel, a Georgian hotel and restaurant.
Sailing
Newport Sailing Club is housed in an old warehouse. As well as facilities for members, it has a non-members' bar.
Walking
Newport is on the
Pembrokeshire Coast Path
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path ( cy, Llwybr Arfordir Sir Benfro), often called the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, is a designated National Trail in Pembrokeshire, southwest Wales. Established in 1970, it is a long-distance walking route, mostly a ...
, part of the
Wales Coast Path
The Wales Coast Path ( cy, Llwybr Arfordir Cymru) is a designated long-distance trail which follows, or runs close to, the coastline of Wales.
Launched in 2012, the footpath is long and was heralded as the first dedicated coast path in the wor ...
, has a
youth hostel and is popular for walks in the
Preseli Hills.
Carn Ingli hill, an
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division of the prehistory and protohistory of humanity. It was preceded by the Stone Age ( Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic) and the Bronze Age ( Chalcolithic). The concept has been mostl ...
hillfort
A hillfort is a type of earthwork used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze Age or Iron Age. Some were used in the post-Roma ...
with
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second prin ...
hut circles, lies just outside the town. Nearby are the
Carreg Coetan Arthur burial chamber and the West Wales Eco Centre.
A little to the north of Newport lie
Newport Cliffs
Newport Cliffs is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (or ''SSSI'') lying a little to the north of Newport in Pembrokeshire, South Wales. It has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest since January 1954 in an attempt to prot ...
, a
Site of Special Scientific Interest managed by
Natural Resources Wales
Natural Resources Wales ( cy, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru) is a Welsh Government sponsored body, which became operational from 1 April 2013, when it took over the management of the natural resources of Wales. It was formed from a merger of the Coun ...
.
Notable people
*
James Bevan Bowen (MP), of Llwyngwair, Newport, was
High Sheriff of Pembrokeshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Pembrokeshire. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilitie ...
in 1862
*
John Grono, (c.1767 – 4 May 1847), settler, sailor, ship builder, ship captain, sealer, whaler and farmer, born in Newport, died in Australia.
*
Robert FitzMartin, (c. 10?? – c. 1159), Norman knight and first Lord of Cemais, founded Newport Castle.
*
Dillwyn Miles (1915–2007), writer and teacher, was born in Newport.
*
John Seymour, (12 June 1914 – 14 September 2004), author, lived at a farm near Newport between 1963 and 1980.
*
The Incredible String Band
The Incredible String Band (sometimes abbreviated as ISB) were a Scottish psychedelic folk band formed by Clive Palmer (musician), Clive Palmer, Robin Williamson and Mike Heron in Edinburgh in 1966. The band built a considerable following, esp ...
, psychedelic folk band, formed in 1966, lived communally at a farmhouse near Newport 1969–1970.
See also
*
Felin Llwyngwair
Twinning
Newport is
twinned with the village of
Plouguin in
Finistère
Finistère (, ; br, Penn-ar-Bed ) is a department of France in the extreme west of Brittany. In 2019, it had a population of 915,090. ,
Brittany
Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period ...
and
Annapolis, Maryland, USA
References
Other sources
*''The Lords of Cemais'',
Dillwyn Miles, Haverfordwest, 1996.
*''Cemais'', Dillwyn Miles, Haverfordwest, 1998.
*''Echoes and Shadows: tales and traditions of Newport and Nevern'', Brian John, Newport, 2008.
*''Carningli: land and people'', Brian John, Newport, 2008.
External links
Local and Tourists Guide to Newport PembrokeshireNewport Pembrokeshire Official Council websitePhotographs of Newport, Pembs and surrounding area on GeographFurther historical information and sources on GENUKIOld photographs of Newport (People's Collection Wales)Newport: Visit Wales
{{authority control
Towns in Pembrokeshire
1197 establishments in Europe
12th-century establishments in Wales
Pembrokeshire electoral wards
Communities in Pembrokeshire
Populated coastal places in Wales
Coast of Pembrokeshire