High Street is the main historical street and the original main thoroughfare in the

centre Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentricity ...

Newport Newport most commonly refers to: *Newport, Wales *Newport, Rhode Island, US Newport or New Port may also refer to: Places Asia *Newport City, Metro Manila, a Philippine district in Pasay * Newport (Vietnam), a United States Army and Army of t ...

South Wales South Wales ( ) is a Regions of Wales, loosely defined region of Wales bordered by England to the east and mid Wales to the north. Generally considered to include the Historic counties of Wales, historic counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire ( ...

. Today it runs for approximately 280m between Westgate Square and the Old Green

roundabout A roundabout, a rotary and a traffic circle are types of circular intersection or junction in which road traffic is permitted to flow in one direction around a central island, and priority is typically given to traffic already in the junct ...

(facing

Newport Castle Newport Castle () 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 crossing of the River U ...

Description

Newport's High Street runs southwest from Newport Castle and Newport Bridge through the city centre, turning south approximately four-fifths of the way along its length. Landmarks along the street include the Kings Head Hotel building, the facade of the Old Post Office (now disguising a multi-storey carpark), Ye Olde Murenger House pub,

Newport Market Newport Market (also known as Newport Provisions Market) is a traditional Victorian indoor market in Newport, South Wales. It is a Grade II-Listed building in the city centre, owned and operated by Newport City Council. The main structure, co ...

and Newport Arcade. Since the early 2010s the street has undergone re-paving and other improvements.

History

Newport was described in 1810 as "consisting principally of one street, built partly on the banks of the

Usk Usk () is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, northeast of Newport. It is located on the River Usk, which is spanned by an arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. Usk Castle, above the town, overlooks the ancient cr ...

" and this description is corroborated by the 1750 map of Newport. High Street led to what is now Stow Hill and eventually to the town church, St Woolos. The town once had walls, with three gates, one of which was in the centre of the High Street and was finally demolished in 1808. The High Street was widened in 1809 and, in 1810, the development of Commercial Street began, extending the town farther south. A tax collector lived on the High Street to collect money to pay for repairs to the walls, though the Murenger's House (a 'murenger' was a tax collector) was demolished in 1816. A

pub A pub (short for public house) is in several countries a drinking establishment licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term first appeared in England in the late 17th century, to differentiate private ho ...

, Ye Olde Murenger House, still exists on High Street, claiming to be Newport's oldest pub, operating since 1530. It was elaborated with faux

jetties A jetty is a man-made structure that protrudes from land out into water. A jetty may serve as a breakwater, as a walkway, or both; or, in pairs, as a means of constricting a channel. The term derives from the French word ', "thrown", signif ...

at some point during the 20th century. A Post Office was built on High Street in 1844, rebuilt in 1907 and reconstructed in 2001 (according to the

blue plaque A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the United Kingdom, and certain other countries and territories, to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site, serving a ...

on the building). A market was held in a block on the east side of the High Street from 1817. It was expanded in 1865 and, in May 1889, an even larger indoor market was opened, with a 58m central hall. The Portland stone facade of the building on High Street dates from the early 1900s. Two covered shopping arcades run off High Street, both probably by local architects Habershon & Fawckner and both now Grade II listed. Newport Arcade to the west dates from 1893 and Market Arcade, to the east, dates from circa 1900. The High Street became a one-way system for motorised vehicles in 1949.

21st century

In the 2010s the High Street underwent regeneration and pedestrianisation as part of a wider £2.6 million project to improve the city centre shopping experience.

References

{{coord, 51.5887, -2.9970, type:landmark_region:GB, display=title Shopping streets in Wales Streets and squares in Newport, Wales Shopping in Newport, Wales