Volume 1, Number 19
The dangerous state of Stow Hill pavement, Is Newport a littery town?, the furthest distance flown by a young pigeon to Newport, Bets the Cripple and the Leicester Duchess and stealing a sack of flour.
Uncovering Newport's interesting past
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For Sale: Numbers 1 and 3, Clarence Place
Two adverts appeared in the Monmouthshire Merlin a few months apart — the first in December, 1833 for the sale of No. 1, Clarence Place, the second in March, 1834 for the sale of No. 3 Clarence Place. Like previous posts on houses for sale (e.g. Two Cottages near Chepstow...
For Sale: Two Cottages Near the Royal Oak Pub
An advert from 1842 for two newly built cottages located near the Royal Oak pub off Chepstow Road.
The 1836 'Hurricane'
On the evening of Monday 28th and into Tuesday 29th November, a violent storm hit Newport, the rest of Monmouthshire and the Bristol Channel causing damage and some deaths.
Crimes in the 15th Century
Cattle stealing, housebreaking, assault, rape, robbery. A record of the crimes being committed in Newport and surrounding areas in the late 15th century.
For Sale in 1778: A Mansion House Called the Fryers
A 1778 advert from the Bath Chronicle described a mansion house for sale called the Fryers.
For Sale: One Used Slave and Whaling Vessel
The short history of how a ship called the African Queen shipped slaves from Africa and went whaling in the South Seas ended up for auction in Newport in 1802.
The First Motor Car In Newport
On Tuesday 24th November, 1896 a Benz motor car was exhibited at the Tredegar Show and it may have been the first car to appear in Newport.
Fire-Eater Visits Newport
For six decades Robert Powell toured the country with his fire eating show where he would eat hot coals as if they were bread, eat a soup of brimstone and lead and even broil beef over a hot coal on his tongue. In 1753 and 1766 he visited the King's Head in Newport.
The Prison Dietary
A report from 1854 discussing the diets of the prisons of the county gaols including ensuring that the food was below that of a workhouse to discourage people choosing a prison life.
Volume 1, Number 13
Breaking the Sabbath in Caerleon, taking a nap in a hay loft, boy steals 20lb of bacon and complaining about the speed of public coaches.
Alteryn Skating Field
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Allt-yr-Yn was home to a very popular ice skating field. Hundreds would attend daily making its owners a sizeable sum of money.
For Sale: A Commodious Dwelling-House
In September 1770, a large house belonging to a Mrs Kemeys was advertised for sale located near the Market House on High Street. But where exactly was it?
Charles Morgan’s Tredegar Cattle Show
The Tredegar Cattle Show ran for over 100 years from 1819 first at Court-y-Bella Farm and then Newport Cattle Market. This is just a brief snippet from a few years in the 19th century.
Dickey Taylor, the Idiotic-Looking Elf
A miserable, lean, and idiotic-looking elf with the vacant stare of a maniac, and the tattered appearance of a thoroughbred vagrant. A Baneswell resident charged with singing in the street.
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A Description of Newport and Caerleon in 1803
Rev J Evans' tour of South Wales including mentions of the bridges at Newport and Caerleon and the Charity School in Caerleon.
1731: When Caerleon's Bull Inn had a Bowling Green
Back in 1731, an advertisement for the Bull Inn, Caerleon mentions a bowling green being available, but where exactly was it?
Letting Newport Castle in 1797
An advertisement posted in 1797 offering to let Newport Castle. Contains information on the different buildings and their dimensions.
18th Century Miscellany — 1730-1749
Stolen horses, mentions of early pubs, houses for sale, the cattle market, the Sea Wall being breached, town and Caerleon bridges brought down by ice, cock fighting and a school in need of a headmaster.
Volume 1, Number 10
A complaint about a muddy Maindee street, Valentine's Day dying out, baptising in the river Ebbw, a complaint about those who drop orange and banana peels and sparing a thought for those who can't pronounce street names.
Newport Charter of 1711
A detailed charter of 1711 describing how food should be sold at markets, requirements for going to church on a Sunday, looking after your hedges and paths and brewing small beer for the poor.
