Newport

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

City of Newport Casnewydd-ar-Wysg
Newport's iconic Transporter Bridge
Arms of Newport City Council
Motto: "Terra Marique" "By land and sea"
Newport shown alongside other principal areas of Wales
City of Newport Newport's location within the UK
Coordinates: 51°35′N 2°59′W / 51.583, -2.983
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Constituent country	Wales
Ceremonial county Historic county	Gwent Monmouthshire
Admin HQ	Newport Civic Centre
Town charter	1385
City status	2002
Government
- Type	Principal area, City
- Governing body	Newport City Council
- Mayor of Newport	Allan Morris
- MPs:	Paul Flynn (L) Jessica Morden (L)
Area
- Total	73.4 sq mi (190 km²)
Population (2006 est / Urban 2006)
- Total	140,100 (Ranked 7th)
- Density	734/sq mi (1,997/km²)
- Ethnicity (2001 Census)	95.1% White 2.6% S. Asian 1.5% Afro-Caribbean
Time zone	Greenwich Mean Time (UTC+0)
Postcode	NP
Area code(s)	01633
ISO 3166-2	GB-NWP
ONS code	00PR
OS grid reference	ST312882
NUTS 3	UKD31
Website: www.newport.gov.uk

Newport (Welsh: Casnewydd) is a city and principal area in Wales, in the United Kingdom. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, located roughly between Cardiff and Bristol, it is the cultural capital [1] and largest urban area in the historic county of Monmouthshire and governed by the unitary Newport City Council. The population of Newport is 140,100, making it the third-largest city in Wales. According to Census 2001 data the population of the core built-up area was 116,143.^[1]

The name 'Newport' derives from the fact that Caerleon was the 'old port' on the river Usk, but as ships became bigger, they could no longer navigate the river to Caerleon so a new port/dock was built near where the Riverfront Arts Centre stands today.

The Welsh language name for the city, Casnewydd-ar-Wysg (IPA: [kasˈnɛwɪð ar ˈwɪsk]) means 'New castle-on-Usk' (this is a shortened version of Castell Newydd ar Wysg)^{[citation needed]}. This refers to the twelfth-century castle ruins near the city centre. The original Newport Castle was a small Motte-and-bailey castle in the park opposite St. Woolos Cathedral. It was buried in rubble excavated from the railway tunnels that were dug under Stow Hill in the 1840s and no part of it is currently visible.^[2] Newport also has the Latin name Novus Burgus, meaning new borough or new town. It is sometimes labelled Newport-on-Usk on old maps.^[3]

The city's importance as a trading port in the Middle Ages was emphasised when a 15th century ship, referred to locally as the Newport ship, was uncovered from the bank of the Usk in 2002, during the construction of the Riverfront Arts Centre. The city is home to the Celtic Manor Resort, a five-star conference resort and home of the Celtic Manor Wales Open, the annual European Tour golf tournament. The resort is also venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup.

Contents 1 History 2 Governance 2.1 Coat of arms 2.2 Freedom of the City 3 Geography 3.1 Divisions and districts 3.2 Climate 4 Demography 5 Economy 6 Regeneration 6.1 Infrastructure 6.2 Commercial and residential 6.3 Leisure 7 Transport 7.1 Road 7.2 Bus 7.3 Rail 7.4 Air 8 Education 9 Culture and arts 10 Parks and playing fields 11 Twinning 12 Sport 13 Notable people 13.1 Arts and literature 13.2 Music 13.3 Politics 13.4 Sports 13.4.1 Football 13.4.2 Rugby 13.4.3 Other sports 13.5 Other notable people 14 References 15 See also 16 External links

[edit] History

The River Usk at Newport has always proved an attractive place to make a home. Bronze Age fishermen settled around its fertile estuary 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 CE: St. Woolos church was founded by St. Gwynllyw, the patron saint of Newport and King of Gwynllwg . The church was certainly in existence by the 9th century and today has become St. Woolos Cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of Monmouth. The Normans arrived sometime from around 1088-1093 to build Newport Castle and river crossing downstream and the first Norman Lord of Newport was Robert Fitzhamon. Around the settlement, the new town grew to be become Newport, and was granted a charter by Hugh, Earl of Stafford in 1385. A second charter establishing the right of the town to run its own market and commerce came from Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham in 1426. A further charter was granted by James I in 1623.

As the Industrial Revolution took off in Britain in the late 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 which grew rapidly as a result. Newport became one of the largest towns in Wales and the focus for the new industrial towns of the eastern valleys of South Wales.

Newport was the focal point of a major Chartist uprising in 1839, where John Frost and 3,000 other Chartists marched on the Westgate Hotel at the centre of the town. The march was met with an attack by militia, called to the town by the Mayor: at least 20 marchers were killed and buried in St Woolos' churchyard. John Frost was sentenced to death for treason, but was instead transported to Australia: he returned to Britain (but not to Newport) later in his life. John Frost Square, in the centre of the city, is named in his honour. (See Chartism for more information).

The county borough of Newport was granted city status in 2002 to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Golden Jubilee.^[4]

Other key dates:

• 1140: The first early Norman wooden motte and bailey castle is built on Stow Hill.
• c1400: Town attacked by the forces of Owain Glyndŵr, rebel Prince of Wales: St. Woolos Cathedral destroyed.
• 1672: Tredegar House completed.
• 1796: Opening of the Monmouthshire canal.
• 1842: Town Dock at Newport Docks opens – able to accommodate the largest ships in the world.
• 1871: W. H. Davies, renowned poet born at Portland Street, Pillgwenlly.
• 1877: Athletic grounds at Rodney Parade opens.
• 1887: The Boys Brigade movement in Wales founded by George Phillip Reynolds at Havelock Sreet Presbyterian Church.
• 1894: Belle Vue Park opens.
• 1906: Transporter Bridge [2] opens on 12 September.
• 1937: King George VI visits Newport and cuts first sod of new Civic Centre building.
• 2000: Original city status bid rejected.
• 2002: Newport Unlimited regeneration company set up to transform the city.

[edit] Governance

Main article: Newport City Council

Newport has long been the largest town in the historic Monmouthshire county and became a unitary authority in 1996, although was also a county borough between 1891 and 1974. The City of Newport is divided between the parliamentary constituencies of Newport West and Newport East. These two parliamentary constituencies cover a similar area to that of the City area controlled by Newport City Council. The city formerly had only one constituency until 1983 when the city was split into Newport West and East to due population growth.

The city is traditionally industrialised with a large working-class population and a strong support for the Labour party, but the Conservatives have a significant minority especially in the more middle-class areas in the west. There has been a sharp increase in the numbers of Liberal Democrat voters in recent elections. In the 2005 general election, the Liberal Democrats pushed the Conservatives into 3rd place in Newport East with Labour still holding on to a sizable majority but in Newport West the Conservatives gained a sizable swing on Labour's lead, with a significantly reduced majority.

[edit] Coat of arms

Newport City Council's coat of arms is unusual for two reasons. Firstly, it places a cherub above the shield of arms; secondly, one of the supporters is a winged sea lion - Newport was the first authority to use this rare heraldic device. In 1929 Newport obtained a grant to use the armorial bearings which, in fact, it had already been using for some time - certainly since 1835.^[5] This is a gold shield with a red chevron in reverse; the shield is ensigned by a cherub. The shield is that of the Staffords, Earls and Dukes of Buckingham, lords of the Manor of Newport in the 14th and 15th centuries - but the reversed chevron marks the difference between these Borough Arms and those of the family.

In 1957 it was decided to petition the Earl Marshal for the supporters which all Boroughs are entitled to possess. A year later the College of Arms granted this request and a winged sea dragon and a winged sea lion were brought into use.^[6] These supporters represent strength on land, sea and in the air. The motto Terra Marique was adopted at the same time and means 'By land and sea'.

The official description of the armorial bearings are: "(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."

[edit] Freedom of the City

The title of Freedom of the City is a ceremonial honour, given by the city council to those who have served in some exceptional capacity, or upon any whom the City wishes to bestow an honour. Recipients include:

• Rt. Hon. Godfrey Charles Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar, Lord Lieutenant of Monmouthshire
• Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
• Corps of the South Wales Borderers (24th Foot)
• Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot)
• 104th Regiment Royal Artillery (Volunteers)
• Royal Welch Fusiliers
• British Merchant Navy Association
• HMS Severn

[edit] Geography

See also: List of places in Newport

The city is largely low-lying, but with a few hilly areas. 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 such as Caerleon, near the banks of the River Usk are also low-lying. The eastern outskirts of the city are characterised by the gently rolling hills of the Vale of Usk. There is a ridge of higher land known as Ridgeway running through the city with good views of surrounding areas.

The suburbs of the city have grown outwards from the inner-city, mainly near the main roads, giving the suburban sprawl of the city an irregular shape. Several out-of-town shopping centres have been built to cater for the needs of these suburbs. Such centres have large free car parks and are seen as more convenient than travelling several miles to shop in the city centre. The urban area is continuing to expand rapidly with new housing estates continuing to be built.

[edit] Divisions and districts

The city is divided into 20 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 a community council are indicated with a '*':

Ward	Communities (Parishes)	Other geographic areas
Allt-yr-yn	Allt-yr-yn	Ridgeway, Barrack Hill, Glasllwch, Gold Tops
Alway	Alway	Somerton, Lawrence Hill
Beechwood	Beechwood	Eveswell
Bettws	Bettws
Caerleon	Caerleon	Christchurch, Bulmore, The Village
Gaer	Gaer	Maesglas, Stelvio, St. Davids
Graig	Graig*	Rhiwderin, Bassaleg, Lower Machen, Pentre Poeth, Fox Hill
Langstone	Langstone*, Llanvaches*, Penhow*	Llanmartin, Parc Seymour, Wentwood Forest, Coed-y-caerau, Cat's Ash, Llanbedr, Whitebrook
Llanwern	Bishton, Goldcliff*, Llanwern*, Redwick*	Underwood, Whitson, Uskmouth, Summerleaze, Wilcrick, Saltmarsh, Milton, Porton
Liswerry	Liswerry, Nash*	Broadmead Park, Moorland Park, Broadstreet Common
Malpas	Malpas
Marshfield	Coedkernew*, Marshfield*, Michaelstone-y-Fedw*, Wentloog*	Castleton, St. Brides, Blacktown, Peterstone
Pillgwenlly	Pillgwenlly	Level of Mendalgief
Ringland	Ringland	Bishpool, Treberth, Coldra
Rogerstone	Rogerstone*	High Cross, Cefn Wood, Croesllanfro, Mount Pleasant
Shaftesbury	Shaftesbury	Brynglas, Crindau, Marshes, Blaen-y-pant
St. Julian's	St. Julian's	East Usk, Barnardtown
Stow Hill	Stow Hill	St. Woolos, Baneswell, City centre
Tredegar Park	Tredegar Park	Duffryn
Victoria	Victoria	Maindee, Summerhill

[edit] Climate

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 warmer and sunnier locations in the UK 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 warm summers and cool winters.^{[7][8][9][10][11]}

Thunderstorms may occur intermittently at any time of year, but are most common throughout late-spring and summer. Rain falls throughout the year, Atlantic storms give significant rainfall in the autumn, these graually becoming rarer towards the end of winter. Autumn and summer have often been the wettest seasons in recent times. Snow falls nearly every winter and usually settles on the ground several times, but it is often light and usually melts immediately or after a few days. Newport records few days with gales compared to most of Wales, again due to its sheltered location. Frosts are common from November to April.

On 20 March 1930, the overnight temperature fell to -16.1 °C (3 °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.^[12]

[edit] Demography

Year	Population
1801	6,657
1851	29,238
1881	48,069
1901	79,342
1941	116,434
1981	131,016
2001	137,017
2006 est.	140,100

People from Newport are known as Newportonians. As of 2001, 71.9% considered themselves Christian, 2.6% Muslim, 1% other religions (mainly Hindu and Buddhist), 16.8% were non-religious and 8.1% chose not to answer the non-compulsory religion question on the 2001 census. The central areas of Newport are very ethnically, and racially diverse. The city is home to 50+ churches^[13] (including Welsh, Chinese and Urdu speaking services), and 7 mosques.^[14] There appears to be only one synagogue;^[15] the nearest Gurudwara^[16] is in Cardiff.

[edit] Economy

Newport has three major centres for employment: the city centre and business parks clustered around the M4 junctions 24 in the east and 28 in the west. The civil service industry is the biggest employer in the city.

Businesses in the city centre include the Passport Office for much of the south and west of the UK, and the Wales headquarters of the Charity Commission and British Red Cross.

Businesses on the west side of the city include: The headquarters of the Office for National Statistics, the headquarters of the Patent Office, the headquarters of Wales and West Utilities, a large Panasonic manufacturing plant, a manufacturing plant for International Rectifier and the shared-service centre for HM Prison Service. There is a huge plant on the Celtic Lakes business and science park originally built for the LG Group, but market conditions led to the semiconductor plant never opening, and the CRT plant eventually closing. There are many plans for the site, including transforming it into a conference centre along the lines of the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham or a large casino.

Industry in the east of Newport was formerly based on the Corus steelworks at Llanwern, and although the rolling mill is still active, steel manufacture ceased in 2001. The land formerly used for manufacturing is currently being redeveloped to provide 4,000 homes and up to 6,000 jobs.

[edit] Regeneration

The city is undergoing a major regeneration programme led by Newport Unlimited.^[17]

[edit] Infrastructure

The first stage of regeneration involves improving the city centre road network, including turning Kingsway and Queensway into boulevards. A new foot and cycle bridge called the Newport City footbridge opened in 2006, linking the east and west banks of the river together. Further downstream, the Southern Distributor Road to the south of the city opened in 2004, including a new road bridge over the Usk, improving access and opening up new areas for development. In the longer term, a new M4 bypass skirting the southern edge of the urban area of Newport is to built, reducing the congestion on the existing motorway and making Newport and the surrounding areas more accessible. There are calls for a barrage across the River Usk to be incorporated with the M4 bypass, so the level of the river stays permanently at high tide level, although plans for a barrage across the River Severn would reduce the need for an Usk barrage.

The bus and railway stations are being extensively redeveloped. Work on the bus station is due to start in early 2008, whilst work on platform 4 of Newport High Street station was completed in July 2007. The railway station's connection with the Ebbw Valley Line is due to be completed by 2009. There are plans to reopen many suburban stations in the near future - as part of phase one of the Ebbw Valley reopening, Rogerstone was re-opened in February 2008. Phase two will see Pye Corner re-opened, and four others are planned in the city's Unitary Development Plan.^[18]

A state-of-the-art hospital is planned to be built. Many local residents have suggested that the new District General Hospital be built at the Whiteheads site now the old Corus facility has closed, but no final site has been approved. A new £11 million five-star Ramada Plaza hotel will be built at Celtic Springs Business Park in the west of the city.^[19]

[edit] Commercial and residential

As part of the Newport Unlimited masterplan, the city centre is currently being expanded to take in areas of the east bank. The area of land between Newport Bridge and George Street Bridge is being developed as a £43 million high-density combined commercial and residential area, joined to the west bank by the new footbridge. The plan shows a strong urban form along the river front, emphasised with tall landmark buildings^[20] The first phase will be known as City Vizion.^[21] Also on the east bank, next to Newport Bridge, permission has been granted to turn the Grade II-listed former Newport Technical College into luxury apartments.

A new £210 million city centre shopping complex known as Friars Walk including a Debenhams department store and multiplex cinema, will be created in time for the 2010 Ryder Cup in Newport. This new complex will form the heart of the regenerated city centre and has been designed so that the Newport City footbridge leads right into the southern entrance.^[22] The development will also include 281 apartments in a 20-storey tower^[23]. This complex will complement the adjacent Kingsway Shopping Centre, which is undergoing its own £20 million refurbishment and expansion, due to be completed by the end of 2007.^[24]

The Cambrian Centre on Queensway Boulevard, near Newport High Street station, will be redeveloped to include a 30-storey, 101 metre (332 ft)-tall block of 238 apartments and four-star hotel, and a 10-storey office block. The shopping experience of Cambrian Road and Queensway Boulevard will be improved with retail uses on the first two floors. Shopper permeability will be improved with the extension of Railway Street through the complex to rejoin with Cambrian Road. The new buildings will be known as City Spires.^[25][26]

The Old Town Dock area is one of the main areas for residential development in the masterplan. At the extreme northern end of this area, a £50 million riverside University campus will be constructed adjacent to the new footbridge.^[27] One of the old University campuses in Allt-yr-yn, will be transformed into high quality housing. Just to the south of the new campus a 441-bed student block is already under construction as of September 2007 and is due to be finished in September 2008.^[28] Adjacent to this site is "The Edge", a development of 227 apartments, including a 21-storey tower containing duplex apartments and penthouses.^[29] Further south is the "Newhaus" development of 154 riverside apartments.^[30] At the southern end of the site, the "Alexandra Gate" development will eventually see 300 homes and riverside apartments built adjacent to the City Bridge.^[31] A 124-bed Ramada Encore hotel is also planned for the intersection of the Southern Distributor Road and Usk Way.^[32]

Further east, there are proposals to transform the disused Llanwern steelworks into 4,000 houses, shops and other facilities, with the creation of up to 6,000 jobs.^[33]

[edit] Leisure

The Riverfront Arts Centre was the first structure to be built as part of Newport's regeneration by Newport City Council. It stands on Kingsway Boulevard on the west bank of the Usk adjacent to the Friars Walk development site. On the east bank, a new stadium and sports and entertainment complex having a capacity of 15,000 will be built on Rodney Parade. It will be home to the Newport RFC and Newport Gwent Dragons rugby teams. The stadium could also be used for other purposes, such as music concerts and is planned to be complete in 2010.

A Crindau Marina is planned to be built just off Heidenheim Drive. The Marina would be the southern terminus of the Monmouthshire canal and would provide opportunities for new housing, shops and leisure facilities.^[34]

To the south-east of the city lies the extensive Newport Wetlands Reserve, opened in March 2000 as a mitigation for the loss of mudflats caused by the building of the Cardiff Bay Barrage. ^[35]

[edit] Transport

See category: Transport in Newport

The city is served with transport links – the M4 motorway comes within a mile (1.6 km) of the city centre, and Newport can be accessed from six junctions (from 24-28 inclusive). The Great Western main railway line also passes through the heart of the city, stopping at Newport High Street station. Cardiff is well linked with Newport, with rail and bus services between the cities approximately every 5 minutes.

[edit] Road

The principal east—west roads are the M4 motorway and A48. The A48 serves as an alternative to the M4 for travelling east–west. It is also the primary road for travelling to rural Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire.

The principal north—south roads are the A467 and A4042 and A449 trunk roads. The A467 and A4042 connect the surrounding valleys to the city and motorway network, and the A449 connects Newport to the Midlands. All are high-speed dual carriageways.

[edit] Bus

Bus services are provided by the council-owned Newport Transport, who provide the "Newport Bus" branded service in the city. Other operators include Stagecoach in South Wales, Francis Drake Travel and Cardiff Bus. Newport bus station [3] is a large terminus which is soon to be redeveloped as part of the Friars Walk shopping complex.

[edit] Rail

Newport High Street railway station is connected directly to the South Wales Main Line branch of the Great Western Main Line, Welsh Marches Line and Gloucester to Newport Line. The connection of Newport station to the Ebbw Valley Line is due to be reopened in 2009.

The Great Western line provides connections to Cardiff, Bridgend and Swansea to the west and high-speed connections to Bristol, Swindon, Reading and London to the east. Additional semi-fast sevices also call at Cardiff, Bristol and Swansea.

Other direct destinations include:

• Gloucester, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Wrexham, Chester, Manchester, Bangor, Carmarthen and Holyhead with Arriva Trains Wales
• Gloucester, Cheltenham, Birmingham, Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield, Leeds, York, and Newcastle upon Tyne with CrossCountry
• Bath, Weston-Super-Mare, Salisbury, Southampton, Portsmouth, Taunton, Didcot with First Great Western.

[edit] Air

The closest airport is Cardiff International Airport (25 miles). However, Bristol Airport (39 miles), Birmingham Airport (108 miles), London Heathrow Airport (124 miles) and London Gatwick Airport (150 miles) are also within reasonable distance.

[edit] Education

Newport is home to the University of Wales, Newport which has two campuses in the city – one in Caerleon and the other in Allt-yr-yn. The university can trace its roots to the founding of the Newport Mechanics Institute in 1841. The Newport School of Art was one of the first Art Schools to be awarded degree status in 1963 and enjoyed a high reputation in painting, fine art and sculpture throughout the 1960s and 1970s. It is still highly regarded however, especially in Documentary Photography.

Plans have been granted for the first phase of a new £60 m city centre university campus as part of the riverside regeneration plans by the urban regeneration company Newport Unlimited. This phase will see the return of the renowned Newport School of Art and Design to the city centre.

The City of Newport is home to eight state comprehensive schools, and one independent comprehensive school. All schools are governed by the Newport LEA. Newport also has a campus of the further education college Coleg Gwent called the City of Newport Campus, informally known as Nash College.

[edit] Culture and arts

Newport Transporter Bridge is one of the few remaining working bridges of its type in the world and featured in the movie Tiger Bay. Visitors can travel on the suspended cradle most days and can walk over the top of the steel framework on bank holidays. The only other British example is Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge.

Newport has a modern purpose-built Theatre and Arts venue, the Riverfront Arts Centre and regular productions at the Dolman Theatre. The city has many works of civic art, including the giant steel Wave on the banks of the Usk, tiled murals at the Civic Centre, Old Green Interchange and John Frost Square plus a number of statues dotted around the city centre including one commemorating the work of poet W. H. Davies.

Newport has two major museums: Newport Museum and the Roman Legionary Museum at Caerleon.In July each year an Arts festival is held in Caerleon and Roman Military re-enactment in the amphitheatre, the largest restored amphitheatre in Britain. The remains of the Roman baths and barracks can be seen at Caerleon.

Set in a beautiful 90 acre (360,000 m²) park, Tredegar House is one of the best examples of a 17th century Charles II mansion in Britain. The earliest surviving part of the building dates back to the early 1500s. For over five hundred years, it was home to one of the greatest of Welsh families, the Morgans - later Lords Tredegar - until they left in 1951. The house was then used as a girls' school until it was bought by the council in 1974, giving rise to its present status as the "grandest council house in Britain".

The city is known for its night-life, containing many pubs [4], bars and nightclubs. The most famous of these is probably T.J.'s, an alternative music club where it is rumoured that Kurt Cobain proposed to Courtney Love. T.J.'s was voted one of the top 50 'Big Nights Out' in the world by FHM in December 1997. Newport City Live Arena and Newport Leisure Centre are popular concert venues.

Newport hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1897, 1988 and 2004.

[edit] Parks and playing fields

The main municipal parks in Newport are Tredegar Park, Belle Vue Park and Beechwood Park. The major municipal playing fields are Tredegar Park, Coronation Park, Glebelands, Pillgwenlly sports ground, Kimberley Park, Shaftesbury Park and Caerleon Broadway.

[edit] Twinning

Newport has four international twinning^[36] links:

• Heidenheim in Germany
• Kutaisi in Georgia
• Guangxi Province in China
• Annapolis in the United States

Heidenheim

The Newport - Heidenheim Twinning Association was formed in 1980 to promote and assist Newport’s link with Heidenheim.

Kutaisi

The twinning arrangement between Newport and Kutaisi, Georgia dates from 1989. Kutaisi is the second city in Georgia, set in a beautiful location between the Caucasian mountains and the Black Sea. The Newport - Kutaisi Twinning Association was founded to promote international friendships and to strengthen links between the two communities.

Guangxi

Newport has been twinned with Guangxi Province in China since 1996.

Annapolis

Newport is a sister city of Annapolis, Maryland.

[edit] Sport

The exploits of Newport RFC were once world-renowned. One of the few clubs to have beaten all the major southern hemisphere touring sides, they were the only side to beat the Invincible All Blacks of 1962—63. Amongst the names associated with the club are Arthur 'Monkey' Gould, the first Rugby Union superstar, and David Watkins, the only man to have captained Great Britain at rugby union and rugby league. Since the regionalisation of Welsh club rugby in 2003, Newport RFC play in the Welsh Premier Division and operate as a feeder club to Newport Gwent Dragons who play in the Celtic League. Eight other rugby union teams playing in the Welsh League are based in Newport; Newport Saracens, Pill Harriers, Newport High School Old Boys, Bettws, Caerleon, Hartridge, St Julians High School Old Boys and Whiteheads. Newport's rugby league club are called the Newport Titans and play in the Welsh Conference Premier.

Newport's best known association football club is Newport County. Although currently playing in the Football Conference, Newport County have played in the second tier of English football and spent 49 seasons in the Football League, reached the last 16 of the FA Cup and the quarter finals of the European Cup Winners' Cup. Newport is also home to three teams who play in the Welsh Football League: Caerleon, Newport YMCA, and Llanwern. Lovell's Athletic were a fairly well-known team in the mid-20th century – due to the suspension of League football during the Second World War they were the premier team in the city, as Newport County did not field a side.

The city has a speedway track, Hayley Stadium, home to the Newport Wasps speedway team. The venue is located in Queensway Meadows industrial estate and provides a model for new-build stadia. From 1964 to 1977 speedway was staged at Somerton Park. The Newport International Sports Village at Liswerry includes one of the few indoor velodromes in Britain, a tennis Centre, swimming pool and facilities for cricket, squash and badminton. Newport Leisure Centre is in the city centre and includes a swimming pool and squash courts.

Newport is one of three main cities where British Baseball is still played - the others are Cardiff and Liverpool - and the city hosts a Wales-England international match every four years at Coronation Park.

Newport has a thriving Squash Club with four courts situated in the grounds of Newport RFC.

Newport has World-class golfing facilities at the Celtic Manor Resort, which will host the 2010 Ryder Cup.

The city is currently home to a number of annual sporting events, including:

• The Wales Open European Tour golf tournament
• The Welsh Open world ranking snooker tournament
• The World Cup of Pool
• The All*Star Cup celebrity golf tournament
• The Elemis Invitational Trophy tennis tournament

[edit] Notable people

Notable current and former residents and natives of Newport include the following:

See also Category:People from Newport

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Buildings and structures in Newport
• Districts of Newport
• Parks in Newport
• Railway stations in Newport

[edit] External links

The external links in this article may not follow Wikipedia's content policies or guidelines. Please improve this article by removing excessive or inappropriate external links.

v • d • e The City of Newport Topics: Newport city centre • Buildings and structures • Companies • History • Images • Organisations • People • Places • Sport • Parks • Transport Districts of Newport: Allt-yr-yn • Alway • Baneswell • Barnardtown • Bassaleg • Beechwood • Bettws • Bishton • Brynglas • Bulmore • Caerleon • Castleton • Cat's Ash • Christchurch • Coedkernew • Crindau • Duffryn • Gaer • Goldcliff • High Cross • Langstone • Liswerry • Llanmartin • Llanvaches • Llanwern • Lower Machen • Maesglas • Maindee • Malpas • Marshfield • Mendalgief • Michaelstone • Nash • Penhow • Peterstone • Pillgwenlly • Redwick • Rhiwderin • Ringland • Rogerstone • Shaftesbury • St. Brides • St. Julian's • Stow Hill • Underwood • Uskmouth • Wentloog • Whitson • Wilcrick Electoral wards of Newport City Council: Allt-yr-yn • Alway • Beechwood • Bettws • Caerleon • Gaer • Graig • Langstone • Liswerry • Llanwern • Malpas • Marshfield • Pillgwenlly • Ringland • Rogerstone • Shaftesbury • St. Julian's • Stow Hill • Tredegar Park • Victoria

v • d • e Local government in Wales Principal areas established in 1996 Anglesey • Blaenau Gwent • Bridgend • Caerphilly • Cardiff • Carmarthenshire • Ceredigion • Conwy • Denbighshire • Flintshire • Gwynedd • Merthyr Tydfil • Monmouthshire • Neath Port Talbot • Newport • Pembrokeshire • Powys • Rhondda Cynon Taff • Swansea • Torfaen • Vale of Glamorgan • Wrexham Counties and districts 1974 - 1996 Clwyd Alyn and Deeside • Colwyn • Delyn • Glyndŵr • Rhuddlan • Wrexham Maelor Dyfed Carmarthen • Ceredigion • Dinefwr • Llanelli • Preseli Pembrokeshire • South Pembrokeshire Gwent Blaenau Gwent • Islwyn • Monmouth • Newport • Torfaen Gwynedd Aberconwy • Arfon • Dwyfor • Meirionnydd • Ynys Môn - Isle of Anglesey Mid Glamorgan Cynon Valley • Merthyr Tydfil • Ogwr • Rhondda • Rhymney Valley • Taff-Ely Powys Brecknock • Montgomeryshire • Radnorshire South Glamorgan Cardiff • Vale of Glamorgan West Glamorgan Lliw Valley • Neath • Port Talbot • Swansea Counties established before 1889 Anglesey • Brecknockshire • Caernarfonshire • Cardiganshire • Carmarthenshire • Denbighshire • Flintshire • Glamorganshire • Merionethshire • Monmouthshire • Montgomeryshire • Pembrokeshire • Radnorshire

v • d • e Places with city status in the United Kingdom England Bath · Birmingham · Bradford · Brighton & Hove · Bristol · Cambridge · Canterbury · Carlisle · Chester · Chichester · Coventry · Derby · Durham · Ely · Exeter · Gloucester · Hereford · Kingston upon Hull · Lancaster · Leeds · Leicester · Lichfield · Lincoln · Liverpool · London (City of London and Westminster) · Manchester · Newcastle upon Tyne · Norwich · Nottingham · Oxford · Peterborough · Plymouth · Portsmouth · Preston · Ripon · St Albans · Salford · Salisbury · Sheffield · Southampton · Stoke-on-Trent · Sunderland · Truro · Wakefield · Wells · Winchester · Wolverhampton · Worcester · York Scotland Aberdeen · Dundee · Edinburgh · Glasgow · Inverness · Stirling Wales Bangor · Cardiff · Newport · St David's · Swansea Northern Ireland Belfast · Derry · Armagh · Newry · Lisburn

Coordinates: 51°35′N, 2°59′W