Newport Castle
Encyclopedia
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 ('New Castle'). The 'new' is a reference to the 'old' Roman
fortress in nearby Caerleon
or the older motte and bailey castle on Stow Hill
.
with its very high tidal range
. Only the east side of the castle remains, sandwiched between a busy road and roundabout, and the tidal river. The ruins of the castle were permanently fenced off in 2003, followed by the closure of the public footpath in 2006.
or the neighbouring railway bridge
, where its position on the west bank of the River Usk
can best be appreciated. The projecting central tower with its water-gate or dock beneath is the dominant feature. Flanking it are two octagonal towers with prominent spur buttresses
. These mark the north and south end of the castle, from which a curtain wall
ran westwards enclosing a roughly rectangular area. Outside the curtain wall was a deep moat
which filled with sea water at high tide.
(Gwynllyw). Today the castle similarly pales into insignificance at a very busy road junction and roundabout system. Sadly it is not technically a tourist attraction and so can only be vaguely appreciated by passers-by or seen from the nearby Riverfront Theatre.
, or his son-in-law Ralph, Earl of Stafford
as one of their castles. It replaced the earlier bailey castle
on Stow Hill
(near St. Woolos Cathedral
), which had been destroyed in conflict.
The newer castle, whilst possessing a strong structure, was never needed for military purposes. In the early fifteenth century the castle was occupied by Humphrey Stafford, the first Duke of Buckingham
, Lord of Newport. It was however sacked by the Welsh
forces of Owain Glyndŵr
1402-3 and never really recovered. Its Constable, appointed to resist Glendower, had been Sir Gilbert Denys(d.1422) of Siston Court, Glos., in the service of Stafford, who commanded there 40 met-at-arms and 4 archers. Glendower had turned thither away from the more strongly built Chepstow Castle. After Humphrey Stafford had left the castle, it became abandoned.
Some efforts were made to re-fortify it during the English Civil War
by the Royalists
.
Now that the castle has been neglected for so long, the east side is the only part of the castle to survive.
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...
, South Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and is a Grade II* Listed building. It is the castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
that gives Newport its original and real name in the Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
, Castell Newydd, shortened to Casnewydd ('New Castle'). The 'new' is a reference to the 'old' Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
fortress in nearby Caerleon
Caerleon
Caerleon is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Wales. Caerleon is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman legionary fortress, Isca Augusta, and an Iron Age hill fort...
or the older motte and bailey castle on Stow Hill
Stow Hill, Newport
Stow Hill is both an electoral district and coterminous community parish of the City of Newport, South Wales.It is bounded by the River Usk to the east, George Street and Cardiff Road to the south, the Great Western Main Line to the southwest, Caerau Crescent, Caerau Road, Godfrey Road, Devon...
.
A neglected ruin
The castle has been practically forced out of existence due to the demands of modern road and rail traffic and the ever-present threat of the River UskRiver 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...
with its very high tidal range
Tidal range
The tidal range is the vertical difference between the high tide and the succeeding low tide. Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun and the rotation of the Earth...
. Only the east side of the castle remains, sandwiched between a busy road and roundabout, and the tidal river. The ruins of the castle were permanently fenced off in 2003, followed by the closure of the public footpath in 2006.
River water-gate
The best view of the castle is not from the 'front' on the roadside, but rather from Newport BridgeNewport Bridge, Newport
Newport Bridge connects High Street and Clarence Place across the River Usk adjacent to Newport Castle in Newport city centre.- The 1800 bridge :...
or the neighbouring railway bridge
Great Western Railway Usk bridge
The Great Western Railway Usk bridge is a crossing of the River Usk in Newport city centre, Wales. It carries the Great Western Main Line across the river in an east—west direction....
, where its position on the west bank of 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...
can best be appreciated. The projecting central tower with its water-gate or dock beneath is the dominant feature. Flanking it are two octagonal towers with prominent spur buttresses
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
. These mark the north and south end of the castle, from which a curtain wall
Curtain wall (fortification)
A curtain wall is a defensive wall between two bastions of a castle or fortress.In earlier designs of castle the curtain walls were often built to a considerable height and were fronted by a ditch or moat to make assault difficult....
ran westwards enclosing a roughly rectangular area. Outside the curtain wall was a deep moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
which filled with sea water at high tide.
Short life
Newport Castle had an active life of just 200 years and was only rarely involved in political situations. It served more as an administrative base for the Lordship of WentloogWentloog (hundred)
Wentloog was an ancient hundred of Monmouthshire.It was situated in the western part of the county, bounded to the north by Brecknockshire; on the east by the hundreds of Abergavenny, Usk and Caldicot; on the south by the Bristol Channel, and on the west by Glamorganshire...
(Gwynllyw). Today the castle similarly pales into insignificance at a very busy road junction and roundabout system. Sadly it is not technically a tourist attraction and so can only be vaguely appreciated by passers-by or seen from the nearby Riverfront Theatre.
Builders
Historians believe that Newport Castle was built between 1327 and 1386 by Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of GloucesterHugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Hugh II de Audley, 1st Baron Audley and 1st Earl of Gloucester was the English Ambassador to France in 1341.-Family:...
, or his son-in-law Ralph, Earl of Stafford
Ralph Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford
Ralph de Stafford, 2nd Baron Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford, KG was an English nobleman and notable soldier during the Hundred Years War against France.-Early life and family:...
as one of their castles. It replaced the earlier bailey castle
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
on Stow Hill
Stow Hill, Newport
Stow Hill is both an electoral district and coterminous community parish of the City of Newport, South Wales.It is bounded by the River Usk to the east, George Street and Cardiff Road to the south, the Great Western Main Line to the southwest, Caerau Crescent, Caerau Road, Godfrey Road, Devon...
(near St. Woolos Cathedral
Newport Cathedral
Newport Cathedral in the city of Newport in South Wales is the cathedral of the Diocese of Monmouth, in the Church in Wales, and seat of the Bishop of Monmouth. The full title is Newport Cathedral, Woolos, King & Confessor...
), which had been destroyed in conflict.
The newer castle, whilst possessing a strong structure, was never needed for military purposes. In the early fifteenth century the castle was occupied by Humphrey Stafford, the first Duke of Buckingham
Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham
Humphrey Stafford, 1st Duke of Buckingham KG , an English nobleman, great grandson of King Edward III on his mother's side, was best known as a military commander in the Hundred Years' War and in the Wars of the Roses....
, Lord of Newport. It was however sacked by the Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
forces of Owain Glyndŵr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
1402-3 and never really recovered. Its Constable, appointed to resist Glendower, had been Sir Gilbert Denys(d.1422) of Siston Court, Glos., in the service of Stafford, who commanded there 40 met-at-arms and 4 archers. Glendower had turned thither away from the more strongly built Chepstow Castle. After Humphrey Stafford had left the castle, it became abandoned.
Some efforts were made to re-fortify it during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
by the Royalists
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
.
Now that the castle has been neglected for so long, the east side is the only part of the castle to survive.