It's always interesting looking through old adverts and seeing if they can be related to present-day Newport and this advert below is one example of being able to successfully do just that.
The advert dates from 20th August 1842 and is for two cottages which are located off Chepstow Road near the Royal Oak pub. The cottages have , 'neat and respectable elevations, and comprise the usual requisite rooms and offices well finished attached, to which there are prolific Gardens of large dimensions, and from their peculiar and delightful situation, and moderate distance from Newport, render them a pleasant retreat for the retired tradesman or family of moderate income'.
The cottages are located just off Royal Oak Hill on a road which would have continued to the present day Christchurch Hill until it was bisected by the M4 motorway. Judging by the satellite view below, one of the cottages has lost it's 'prolific garden of large dimensions'.
The tithe map from 1840/1841 would have been made just before the advert and shows the two cottages just at the split where Royal Oak Hill bears to the right. The area was all countryside hence being sold as a 'pleasant retreat' away from Newport and without the Alway and Ringland disturbing the views its owners would have been able to see the Gwent Levels and beyond to the channel.
I have spotted the cottages before and often when you see properties like the ones in the photo below you wonder about their history but often it's difficult to know where to look to find information so it's exciting when you see an advert related to them.
The two owners at the time were a Captain Pearce and a Thomas Jenkins who were renting on an annual basis and the owner was a Mr Morris.
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