Newport Bridge, Newport
Encyclopedia
Newport Bridge http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/372702 (colloquially called Town Bridge though Newport
is a city
) connects High Street and Clarence Place across the River Usk
adjacent to Newport Castle
in Newport city centre
.
). It was widened and improved in 1866.
The original foundation stone bearing the inscription "This bridge was erected at the expense of the County by David Edwards and his two sons William and Thomas. Completed AD MDCCC." is now set into the stonework of Caerleon Bridge
.
jumped off Newport bridge with his hands manacled & feet shackled. He was arrested the following week by the police for obstructing a public highway and for holding a public entertainment on the bridge.
By 1920 even the widened bridge had become inadequate, so work began to replace it entirely with a new structure.
To best achieve this a temporary wooden bridge was erected alongside it and all power and gas lines were re-routed onto it. Even the town's tram lines and their accompanying overhead power system were moved over.
The old bridge was then demolished and the new one erected.
On 22 June 1927 the new bridge was complete and opened to traffic by the Transport Minister
Wilfrid Ashley
.
on four of the pillars that were modelled after Newport's coat of arms and mounted on the bridge.
In 1994 John Squire, guitarist of The Stone Roses
designed the cover of their hit single Love Spreads
based on a photograph of a stone cherub on Newport Bridge. The cherub design was found on many pieces of Second Coming
merchandise, the album from which Love Spreads is taken.
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
is a city
City status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...
) connects High Street and Clarence Place across the River Usk
River Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
adjacent to Newport Castle
Newport Castle
Newport Castle is a castle ruin in the city of Newport, South Wales and is a Grade II* Listed building. It is the castle that gives Newport its original and real name in the Welsh language, Castell Newydd, shortened to Casnewydd...
in Newport city centre
Newport city centre
Newport city centre is traditionally regarded as the area of Newport bounded by the west bank of the River Usk, the George Street Bridge, the eastern flank of Stow Hill and the Great Western Main Line. Most of the city centre is contained within two conservation areas: the central area and the area...
.
The 1800 bridge
The first stone bridge on the site was a bridge of five arches, erected in the year 1800 by David Edwards (son of William EdwardsWilliam Edwards (architect)
William Edwards was a Welsh Methodist minister who also practised as a stonemason, architect and bridge engineer....
). It was widened and improved in 1866.
The original foundation stone bearing the inscription "This bridge was erected at the expense of the County by David Edwards and his two sons William and Thomas. Completed AD MDCCC." is now set into the stonework of Caerleon Bridge
Caerleon Bridge
Caerleon Bridge is a bridge crossing of the River Usk at Caerleon in the city of Newport, United Kingdom.The stone built bridge was opened in 1806 as a replacement for the previous wooden bridge, it carries the B4236 road from Caerleon-ultra-Pontem into Caerleon itself...
.
Houdini
On the 5th March 1913 the famous escape artist Harry HoudiniHarry Houdini
Harry Houdini was a Hungarian-born American magician and escapologist, stunt performer, actor and film producer noted for his sensational escape acts...
jumped off Newport bridge with his hands manacled & feet shackled. He was arrested the following week by the police for obstructing a public highway and for holding a public entertainment on the bridge.
The new bridge
To best achieve this a temporary wooden bridge was erected alongside it and all power and gas lines were re-routed onto it. Even the town's tram lines and their accompanying overhead power system were moved over.
The old bridge was then demolished and the new one erected.
On 22 June 1927 the new bridge was complete and opened to traffic by the Transport Minister
Secretary of State for Transport
The Secretary of State for Transport is the member of the cabinet responsible for the British Department for Transport. The role has had a high turnover as new appointments are blamed for the failures of decades of their predecessors...
Wilfrid Ashley
Wilfrid William Ashley, 1st Baron Mount Temple
Wilfrid William Ashley, 1st Baron Mount Temple PC , was a British soldier and Conservative politician. He served as Minister of Transport between 1924 and 1929 under Stanley Baldwin.-Background and education:...
.
The Stone Roses
The new bridge has stone cherubsCherub
A cherub is a type of spiritual being mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and cited later on in the Christian biblical canons, usually associated with the presence of God...
on four of the pillars that were modelled after Newport's coat of arms and mounted on the bridge.
In 1994 John Squire, guitarist of The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses
The Stone Roses are an English alternative rock band formed in Manchester in 1983. They were one of the pioneering groups of the Madchester movement that was active during the late 1980s and early 1990s...
designed the cover of their hit single Love Spreads
Love Spreads
"Love Spreads" is a song by The Stone Roses, released in November 1994 as the first single from their second album Second Coming. The record was a number two hit in the UK, the highest peak for any song by the band, as well as the only Stone Roses song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, charting at...
based on a photograph of a stone cherub on Newport Bridge. The cherub design was found on many pieces of Second Coming
Second Coming (album)
Second Coming is the second studio album by The Stone Roses, released through Geffen Records on 5 December 1994 in the UK and in early 1995 in the US. It was recorded at Forge Studios in Oswestry, Shropshire and Rockfield Studios near Monmouth in Wales between 1992 and 1994...
merchandise, the album from which Love Spreads is taken.
See also
- List of bridges in Wales
- Newport and Caerleon Bridges over Usk Act 1597Newport and Caerleon Bridges over Usk Act 1597The Newport and Caerleon Bridges over Usk Act 1597 was an Act of the Parliament of England. It was repealed by the Statute Law Revision Act 1948.-Full text of the Act:...
- Newport's Town Bridge: A Brief History (2011) @ Newport Past website http://www.newportpast.com/bridges/town_bridge/index.php