Newport, Shropshire

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Newport
Newport shown within Shropshire
Population	10,814
OS grid reference	SJ745191
Unitary authority	Telford and Wrekin
Ceremonial county	Shropshire
Region	West Midlands
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	TELFORD
Postcode district	TF10
Dialling code	01952
Police	West Mercia
Fire	Shropshire
Ambulance	West Midlands
European Parliament	West Midlands
UK Parliament	The Wrekin
List of places: UK • England • Shropshire

Coordinates: 52°46′09″N 2°22′43″W / 52.7691, -2.3787

Newport is a market town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, some 6 miles north of Telford. It lies near to the border with the county of Staffordshire. The 2001 census recorded 10,814 people living in the town's parish, making it the second largest town of Telford and Wrekin, not including the conglomerated towns of the Telford urban area. The town now lies in the borough and unitary authority of Telford and Wrekin. The village of Church Aston, to the south of Newport, has merged with the town, though it is a separate parish.

[edit] History

Newport is an interesting and picturesque market town in the centre of a rural farming area. Situated 10 miles from the New town of Telford, Newport was itself planned as a new town of the 12th century, planted here during the reign of Henry I. The wide main street designed for it's market and the narrow burgage plots running at right angles to it is typical of the Norman planned towns. Due to the passage of time and a great fire of 1665 only a few of the medieval buildings remain, but there are many fine Regency and Georgian frontages.

Newport is sited on a Sandstone ridge. The area around it at the end of the last Ice Age was part of Lake Lapworth. This was formed from the melting glaciers and covered a vast area of North Shropshire. Early man fished here and two log boats were uncovered a mile from Newport. One has been preserved and is now at Harper Adams University College at Edgmond.

Newport is not mentioned in the Domesday Survey, but at the time of the Conquest formed part of the manor of Edgmond, which William I gave with the rest of the county of Shropshire to Roger, Earl of Shrewsbury. Henry I is supposed to have founded the borough, at first called New Borough, after the manor had come into his hands through the forfeiture of Robert de Belesme.

The Norman's planned a 'New Town' beside the older settlement of Edgmond. This resulted in the distinctive long wide High Street, the burgage plots and the name Novo Burgo, meaning New Town. The first market charter was granted by Henry I.

Medieval Newport flourished with trade in leather, wool and fish. Fish came from the nearby vivary and Novoportans possessed the right to provide fish for the Royal table. The many half-timbered buildings surviving from the Late Medieval and Tudor periods confirm Newport's success.

The site was probably chosen partly on account of the fisheries, which are mentioned in the Domesday Survey, one of the chief services of the burgesses being that of taking fish to the king's court wherever it might be. This custom was continued after Henry III had granted the borough with the manor of Edgmond, to Henry de Audley, but in the middle of the 13th century James, son of Henry de Audley, granted that the burgesses need not take the fish anywhere except within the county of Shropshire.

The burgesses must have received certain privileges from Henry I, since Henry II in an undated charter granted them all the liberties, rights and customs which they had in the time of Henry I. This probably included a gild merchant which is mentioned in the Quo Warranto Rolls as one of the privileges claimed by the burgesses. Confirmation charters were granted by Edward I in 1287 and Edward II in 1311, while the town was incorporated in 1551 by Edward VI, whose charter was confirmed by James I in 1604. The governing body consisted of a high steward, deputy steward, two water-bailiffs and 28 burgesses, but the corporation was abolished by the Municipal Corporation Act of 1883, and a Local Board was formed, which, under the Local Government Act, gave place in 1894 to an urban district council.

Like many rural market towns, Newport was influenced by industry from both directions, it served the needs of the mining area to the east of Shropshire and was also affected by mass produced industrial goods that replaced traditional crafts.

[edit] Landmarks

The ruins of Lilleshall Abbey are to be found four miles to the south. They include a Norman west door and part of the front, considerable remains of the church besides, and traces of domestic buildings. The abbey was founded in 1145, under charter from King Stephen, by Richard de Baumes or Belmeis, dean of St Alkmund, Shrewsbury, for Augustinian canons, who were brought from Dorchester Abbey, Oxfordshire.

The town's church of St. Nicholas is Early English and Perpendicular.

The town also has an ancient market cross, the Buttercross, and a literary institute.

Newport High Street, Stafford Street roundabout	Newport High Street	St. Nicholas church	St. Mary's Street
Mere Park Garden Centre			Front of Adams' Grammar School
Independent Chapel, Beaumaris Lane

[edit] The High street and shopping

The High street of Newport follows the Norman design. This resulted in the distinctive long wide High Street, the burgage plots running along either side and the church rising up in the middle, with the High street on one side and st marys street on the other. After the fire of Newport in 1666 The old norman buildings were replaced with grand Georgian architecture hiding the work yards behind, the shops are still there but the work yards have now been developed into housing. despite being close to larger retail centers such as Telford, Shrewsbury and Stafford, Newport has retained a large amount of shops that row the High street, Stafford street and St Marys street, with St Marys street keeping its charm by still using Cobblestone and the majority of shops being small boutiques. St Marys is also the sight of various markets and fairs such as the Olde time market, with over 50 stalls and various farmers market's, these tie in with Newports indoor market. There is also a Waitrose superstore on the edge of the town centre which also includes an online ordering service called "Waitrose Deliver" the town also has well known companies such as Subway, Woolworths, Somerfield, Greggs, Seconds Ahead, Focus Do It All two Electronics centers and Mackays

[edit] Churches

Independent Chapel, Beaumaris Lane, Newport, Built 1803 on the sight of a church dating from 1765, converted into cottages in 1832.
Newport Independent (Congregational) Chapel, Wellington Road, Built 1831, Now called the Trinity church
Newport Primitive Methodist Chapel, Stafford Road, built 1830, demolished 1877.
Newport Primitive Methodist Chapel, Wellington Road, built 1877, closed 1920.
Newport Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Upper Bar, Built 1829, converted into shops in 1876.
Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Avenue Road, Newport, Built 1876, closed in 2001 and has since become a house.
Newport Baptist church, Water Lane, Built 1960's.
St Nicolas church, origanaly Built in the reign of Henry I and restored in 1886 and 1890
St Peter and Paul Catholic church, Newport Salters Lane, Built 1857

[edit] Education

Newport has a selective girls' school, Newport Girls' High School, and a selective grammar school for boys (and girls in the sixth form), Adams' Grammar School, founded in 1656 by Haberdasher William Adams. Harper Adams University College is also located near to the town in the village of Edgmond, the third school in the town is the Burton Borough School which accommodates all students within the area, which is now an arts college in conjunction with the nearby college "TCAT". Burton Borough has top of the range Science, I.C.T., D.T., Languages and Music facilities; which has produced excellent pupils and artists.

[edit] Transport

The A41 runs by the town on a North-South by-pass which opened in early 1985 and the A518 runs by the town on an East-West bypass from Stafford to Telford. The railway which once ran from Wellington to Stafford, through Newport, has now been dismantled. The Shrewsbury and Newport Canal is also now out of use but may one day be restored by the Shrewsbury and Newport Canal Trust.

[edit] Culture

There is a range of small pubs and wine bars spread up and down the main high street of Newport, the most popular being The Barley, The Railway Tavern and The Pheasant.^{[citation needed]} These are most popular with the students and locals. Also in the town centre, there is the nightclub, Central Square, which was formerly called "Main Street". The town has many event throughout the year, but six main events bring people to newport:

Newport Show is hosted yearly in Deer Park

situated in the showground between Edgmond and Newport.Newport show

Newport carnival which has been staged in Newport for over 150 years
Newport nocturnal cycle race, which brings the biggest crowds to newport in the winter
British Falconry and raptor fair
Newport old time market
Newport music festival- held for the first time this year

[edit] Venues in Newport

Cosy Hall- Built in 1852 as a coach manufacturer, it has been re-developed into the towns Community Building, overlooking the Shrewsbury and Newport Canal.
The Guildhall - is a medieval timber-framed building dating from Anglo-Saxon times.
Newport Market Hall - Built in 1860 and is considered one of the towns grandest buildings.
Royal Victoria Hotel - named after Princess Victoria in 1832 after she stayed there.
Royal Naval Club - hosts live music regularly.

[edit] Restaurants and cafes

Newport has a wide range of restaurants, mostly on the High Street and branch streets. These range from small family run cafes to large international companies.

Laurel & Hardy, St Marys' Street
Mischa's Restaurant, High Street
Shanghai City, High Street
Shimla Tandoori Restaurant, St Mary's Street
Spice Island, High Street
Taste of Paradise, High Street
Adams House, High Street
Lutine Bell, High Street
The Fox, Chetwind Aston
Jasmine Tandoori Restaurant, High Street

[edit] Future plans

Over the last few years, very little in the way of redevelopment has happened in the town, with attention going to towns including Wellington and Oakengates. Over the next few years, a major redevelopment of the canal and surrounding area is planned for the lower bar of the High Street area, with planned housing, bars and restaurants set to line the canal. New sporting facilities, like climbing walls in the Springfields area of the town and a new multi-million pound sports centre are also being built. There are also plans to build two new hotels in the town, both on the by-pass, which will be on opposite sides of the town, near to a local DIY shop Focus DIY with a lorry park and tourist information centre and near the Meer Park garden centre respectively.

The High Street and St Mary's Street area is also seeing new stores coming in to the town to fill empty lots and some of the older ones being developed.

[edit] Sport

Newport Bowling Club play in the premier division of Shropshire after promotion from the mid Shropshire division one.

Newport Cricket Club play in the Birmingham and District Premier League division 2.

Newport Dolphins Swimming Club are one of the best swimming clubs in the country and is in the national division 2.

Newport (Salop) Rugby Union Football Club is the highest ranked rugby club in Shropshire.

Newport Nocturne

[edit] Lilleshall Sports Centre

Lilleshall Hall Formerly the country retreat and hunting lodge for the Duke of Sutherland, Lilleshall Hall now commands an unrivalled position as the foremost venue for sporting and strategic excellence. Now home to the flagship Lilleshall National Sports Centre, the hall and grounds are utilised to the benefit of the whole nation - indeed Lilleshall has been the training ground for some of todays top sportsmen and women from all fields and abilities. 2 miles from the centre of Newport.

[edit] Notable residents

[edit] Arts

James Sutton - (1983-) English television actor
Craig Phillips - Big brother winner.
Michael J. Bassett - Film Director and scriptwriter
Charles Dickens stayed in Newport and modeled Miss Havisham in his novel Great Expectations (1861) on Elizabeth Parker
John Meeson Parsons- (1798–1870) Art collector
Francis Neilson - (1867-1961) writer
Matthew Smith – 17th-century spy, intriguer and writer

[edit] Sport

Adam Proudlock - Wolverhampton Wanderers FC player.
Ben Jones - medalist in the Olympics for horseriding.
Simon Holt - cyclist
Ryan Palmer - chess champion

[edit] Military

John Benbow - (1653?-1702) Admiral

[edit] Other

Thomas Louis Green - {1799-1893} Priest and controversialist.
Matthew Parker (1980-) Traveller and Explorer
Thomas Brown (1663 - 1704), the irreverent satirist
Thomas Rose (died 1837), notable thieif
Robert Hendy-Freegard - (1971-) British barman, car salesman, conman and impostor who masqueraded as an MI5 agent
Michael Jack - Chairman of the Hartington Group
William Adams- 17th Century London Haberdasher

[edit] science and mathmatics

Sir Oliver Joseph Lodge (1851-1940) – Invented the electrical spark ignition for the internal combustion engine and was the first principal of Birmingham University.
James Edward Quibell - (1867-1935) British Egyptologist
Percy John Heawood - (1861-1955) Notable Mathematician

[edit] politics

Peter Bottomley - Conservative Member of Parliament for Worthing West.
John Benbow, clerk of the Crown whose right to use a coat of arms was confirmed in 1622, and Colonel Benbow, who was shot in 1651 by the roundheads
Robert Puleston - supporter of Owain Glyndŵr, at the time of his rebellion against King Henry IV
William Kenyon-Slaney- sportsman, soldier and politician.