| Penhow | |
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Penhow
Penhow shown within Newport |
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| Population | 770 (2001 census[1]) |
|---|---|
| Principal area | Newport |
| Country | Wales |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NEWPORT |
| Dialling code | +44-1633 Llanwern and Penhow exchanges |
| Police | Gwent |
| Fire | South Wales |
| Ambulance | Welsh |
| EU Parliament | Wales |
| List of places: UK • Wales • Newport | |
Penhow (Welsh: Pen-hŵ) is a small village and community parish just inside the eastern edge of the boundary of the city of Newport, South Wales, within the historic county of Monmouthshire. The name Penhow was believed to be derived from the Welsh word Pen and How derived from the Old Norse word Haugr meaning hill or mound.[2]
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Fragments of Roman building material have been found in the area.[3]
Penhow is best known for Penhow Castle, which has claims to be the oldest inhabited castle in Wales. It was built as a home for Sir Roger de St Maur, one of the Norman knights who served the Norman Lord of Striguil at Chepstow Castle. He built a tower house, and documentary evidence shows that he was at Penhow by 1129. It was the first British home of the family who would later rise to national prominence under the more familiar name of Seymour. Later the Seymour family sold Penhow Castle to the Lewis family of St. Pierre, who converted the castle to a modern residence in 1674. Thomas Lewis' son Thomas was High Sheriff of the county, and married the daughter of Sir [[Richard Levett], Lord Mayor of London. The Lewis retained ownership of Penhow Castle for several centuries.[4]
The castle has a reputation for being haunted.[5]. It was open to the public between 1978 and 2002.[6]
The parish church of St. John the Baptist is next to the castle. It has 13th century origins, and was the subject of restoration work in the 19th century.[3]
The Rock & Fountain Inn is a 17th Century coaching inn on the edge of the village. The historic inn and its 5-acre site underwent a £1m renovation and redevelopment during 2010. The inn reopened as a steak and seafood restaurant in November 2010.
Local pubs also include the Groes Wen.
Penhow also holds the current record July temperature for Wales, 34.2°C (93.5°F) set on July 19, 2006 [7].
The area is governed by the Newport City Council and the Penhow, Newport community council.