Newport, Pembrokeshire

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Newport and the Nyfer estuary from Carn Ingli
Coordinates: 52°01′11″N 4°50′10″W / 52.01975°N 4.83607°W / 52.01975; -4.83607
Newport
Welsh: Trefdraeth
Newport

 Newport shown within Pembrokeshire
Population 1,122 (2001 census[1])
OS grid reference SN055395
Principal area Pembrokeshire
Ceremonial county Dyfed
Country Wales
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town NEWPORT
Postcode district SA42
Dialling code 01239
Police Dyfed-Powys
Fire Mid and West Wales
Ambulance Welsh
EU Parliament Wales
UK Parliament Preseli Pembrokeshire
List of places
UK
Wales
Pembrokeshire

Newport (Welsh: Trefdraeth) is a town on the Pembrokeshire coast in south-west Wales, at the mouth of the River Nevern (Welsh: Afon Nyfer) in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The town straddles the A487 road that runs from Haverfordwest north to Bangor. It is a popular tourist destination.

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 male heir in 1326.

Newport is a marcher borough. Owen, in 1603, described it as one of five Pembrokeshire boroughs overseen by a portreeve.[2] It retains some of the borough customs such as electing a mayor, who beats the bounds on horseback every August.

The castle 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 site, and a converted house incorporating the castle walls which faces west over the town, the bay and the Irish Sea is still inhabited.

The church of St Mary's, sited below the castle though within the town, dates from the FitzMartin era, and the outside east apse bears their arms ("Argent, two bars gules"). Cnapan Hotel is a Georgian hotel and restaurant in the town.

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.

Today

Newport is popular for its beaches and local amenities including golf, fishing, sailing and a compact but varied shopping centre. Nearby are the Carreg Coetan Arthur burial chamber and the West Wales Eco Centre. The town also lies on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, has a youth hostel and is popular for walks in the Preseli Hills. Carn Ingli hill, home to an Iron Age hillfort and some Bronze Age hut circles lies just outside the town.

Newport is twinned with the village of Plouguin in Finistère, Brittany and Annapolis, Maryland, USA.

Notable people

Newport Bay across Traeth y Bettws and Afon Nyfer - viewed from the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
  • Robert FitzMartin, (c. 10??-c. 1159), Norman knight and first Lord of Cemais, founded the Newport Castle.
  • John Grono, (c.1767- 4 May 1847), settler, sailor, ship builder, ship captain, sealer, whaler and farmer, born in Newport, died in Australia.
  • James Bevan Bowen, of Llwyngwair, Newport, High Sheriff of Pembrokeshire in 1862
  • Dillwyn Miles (1915-2007), writer and teacher, was born in Newport.
  • William Edward Cheverton, Saloon Steward on the Titanic.
  • John Seymour, (12 June 1914 – 14 September 2004), author, lived at a farm near Newport between 1963 and 1980.
  • The Incredible String Band, psychedelic folk band, formed in 1966, lived communally at a farmhouse near Newport 1969 - 1970.
  • Wynmor Owen, local sculptor known for working with recycled materials found in the landscape.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Office for National Statistics Parish Headcounts: Newport, Pembrokeshire
  2. ↑ Owen, George (1892). The Description of Pembrokeshire by George Owen of Henllys Lord of Kemes (Henry Owen, Ed.). London. 
  3. ↑ "Pembrokeshire sculptor Wynmor Owen". Retrieved 18 Jan 2014. 

Other sources

  • The Lords of Cemais, Dillwyn Miles, Haverfordwest, 1996.
  • Cemais, Dillwyn Miles, Haverfordwest, 1998.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Newport, Pembrokeshire.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Trefdraeth.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Newport_%28Pembrokeshire%29.
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