Newport (Welsh: Casnewydd) is the third largest city in Wales (after Cardiff and Swansea). Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is the cultural capital of the traditional county of Monmouthshire, although an administrative county in its own right.

The full Welsh name for the city is Casnewydd-ar-Wysg (pronounced Cas-NEW-ith) ('e' as in 'men'; 'th' as in 'then'), which literally means 'New Castle-on-Usk'. This refers to the twelfth-century castle ruins near the city centre, which are 'new' compared to the Roman fortress at nearby Caerleon. Newport is also sometimes labelled Newport-on-Usk on old maps.

The city's importance as a trading port in the middle ages was re-emphasized when a 15th century ship, referred to locally as the Newport ship was recently uncovered from the bank of the Usk within Newport during the construction of a new arts centre.

The city is excellently served in communication terms - the M4 motorway comes within a mile of the city centre, and Newport has six junctions. The Great Western main railway line also passes right through the heart of the city, stopping at High Street station. Newport is also a major railway junction between the Great Western line and a line direct to the Midlands and north of England.

The facts of the matter are somewhat obscured by time; However it is widely regarded that Newport was founded by St. Gwynllyw (roughly "G-win-th-loo") who gives his name (albeit twisted out of recognition) to Newport's St. Woolos Cathedral.

Newport is known for its many works of civic art, including the steel Wave on the banks of the Usk, and the mechanical clock in the city centre. It also has one of the few remaining working transporter bridges (the other British example being in Middlesbrough).

Set in a beautiful 90 acre (360,000 m�) 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 girl's 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 nightlife, containing many pubs, bars and nightclubs in a relatively small area. 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.

Newport is also a 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 back to the founding of the Newport Mechanics Institute in 1841. The Newport School of Art was one of the first Schools to be awarded degree status in 1963 and enjoyed a high reputation in Painting and Sculpture throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

There are plans to centralise the university in a new �60m city centre campus as part of the riverside regeneration plans by the urban regeneration company Newport Unlimited.

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

Satirical rap group Goldie Lookin' Chain are based in Newport. Grant Nicholas, lead singer of Feeder grew up nearby and went to St Julians Comprehensive in the city.

 Trains:
 Newport is on the Ebbw Valley Line
 Newport is on the Gloucester to Newport Line
 Newport is on the South Wales Main Line
 Newport is on the Welsh Marches Line

 Farmers Markets:
 Newport Farmers Market
       Bridge Street
       Newport
       NP20
       10am-2pm 2nd and 4th Friday each month
       01633 263 117

 Museum: Newport Museum

 Theatre: Dolman Theatre
 Theatre: Riverfront Arts Centre

 Cinemas:
 Cineworld
       Seven Styles Avenue
       Newport
       Gwent
       NP19 4QQ
       http://www.cineworld.co.uk/reservation/ChoixResa.jgi?CINEMA=58

 City Cinema
       Bridge Street
       Newport
       Gwent
       01633 253289
       NP20 4AP
       http://www.reelcinemas.co.uk/index.php?localpage=sites&sitecode=nji

 Football: Newport County FC
 Football: Newport YMCA FC

 Rugby: Bettws (Newport) RFC
 Rugby: Newport Gwent Dragons
 Rugby: Newport HSOB RFC
 Rugby: Newport RFC
 Rugby: Newport Saracens RFC

 Vets:
 Wyn R Griffiths
       42 Chepstow Rd
       Newport
       Gwent
       NP19 8WS
       01633 259861

 Bridge Veterinary Centre
       103 Glasllwch Crescent
       Highcross
       Newport
       Gwent
       NP10 9SG
       01633 892221

 Jones The Vet
       161 Larch Grove
       Newport
       Gwent
       NP20 6LA
       01633 858599

 Budget Vets
       21 Malpas Rd
       Newport
       Gwent
       NP20 5PB
       01633 855825

 Fields Vets
       214 Stow Hill
       Newport
       Gwent
       NP20 4RB
       01633 264850

 Summerhill Avenue Veterinary Clinic
       45 Summerhill Avenue
       Newport
       Gwent
       NP19 8FQ
       01633 255394

 Tourist Information Centre

 Telephone:

01633 842962

 Fax:

01633 222615

 Email:

[email protected]

 Address:

Museum & Art Gallery
John Frost Square
Newport
NP20 1PA

 Hours:

Winter Monday - Saturday  9:30-17:00 
Summer Monday - Saturday  9:30-17:00

The images below are by kind permission of Simon Fern.
 To view a larger image, just click on the image

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This Month

December 20th

Geoffrey Howe (politician) born 1925 in Port Talbot

December 27th

John Charles (footballer) born 1931 in Swansea

December 29th

Aled Jones (singer/broadcaste) born 1970, Anglesey

December 31st

Anthony Hopkins (actor) was born 1937