Newport city centre
Encyclopedia
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 around Lower Dock Street. Most of the city centre is located in the Stow Hill district.
The main shopping thoroughfare is Commercial Street, which forms part of the north-south axis of Commercial Street and Commercial Road, linking the heart of the city with Newport Docks
. The streets were laid-out in 1807 by Sir Charles Morgan's Tredegar Wharf Company to connect the expanding docks with the main roads in the centre.
The area between Commercial Street and the river used to contain a mixture of railway lines and river wharves so the street pattern in this area was never fixed. On the removal of the railway lines and wharves in the 1960s the large John Frost
Square and Kingsway Shopping Centre
were built. This area is currently being redeveloped to provide the Friars Walk
shopping mall.
Towards the northern end of Newport city centre is Westgate Square, named after the Westgate Hotel
. Here, the five roads of Commercial Street, Stow Hill, Bridge Street, High Street and Skinner Street converge. This is generally regarded as the centre, although the actual centre as measured on road signs is further up Bridge Street outside the Queen's Hotel — adjacent to the central post office
which is where most OS
maps pin point the centre of a place to be.
From Bridge Street, the two roads of High Street and Cambrian Road run in parallel to the Newport railway station
. Joining them is the covered Victorian
Newport Arcade. At the western end of the arcade lies the Cambrian Centre
which was due to be redeveloped into the City Spires centre. To the east of High Street is Newport Market
, a Grade II-listed building.
Kingsway/Usk Way is a boulevard on the west bank of the River Usk linking Newport Castle to the western ends of City Bridge
and Newport Transporter Bridge
. The city centre is currently being expanded to include areas on the east bank. The area between Newport Bridge
and George Street Bridge is included in the Newport Unlimited
master plan as a new high-density combined commercial and residential area, joined to the west bank by the new Newport City footbridge
. The plan shows a strong urban form along the riverfront, emphasised with tall landmark buildings http://www.newport.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/agenda/cont042922.pdf.
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...
bounded by 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...
, the George Street Bridge, the eastern flank of Stow Hill and the Great Western Main Line
Great Western Main Line
The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great...
. Most of the city centre is contained within two conservation areas: the central area and the area around Lower Dock Street. Most of the city centre is located in the Stow Hill district.
The main shopping thoroughfare is Commercial Street, which forms part of the north-south axis of Commercial Street and Commercial Road, linking the heart of the city with Newport Docks
Newport Docks
Newport Docks is the collective name for a series of docks in the city of Newport, South Wales.-Background:Newport was a small fishing port and market town until the coming of the industrial age at the beginning of the 19th century...
. The streets were laid-out in 1807 by Sir Charles Morgan's Tredegar Wharf Company to connect the expanding docks with the main roads in the centre.
The area between Commercial Street and the river used to contain a mixture of railway lines and river wharves so the street pattern in this area was never fixed. On the removal of the railway lines and wharves in the 1960s the large John Frost
John Frost (Chartist)
John Frost was a prominent Welsh leader of the British Chartist movement in the Newport Rising....
Square and Kingsway Shopping Centre
Kingsway Shopping Centre
The Kingsway Shopping Centre is the principal under-cover shopping centre in the city of Newport, Wales. It has several levels and includes a range of high street shops and privately-owned boutiques. It is also home to the city's museum, art gallery and Newport Central library...
were built. This area is currently being redeveloped to provide the Friars Walk
Friars Walk
Friars Walk is a projected shopping centre in Newport city centre.The original £222m scheme was intended to cover an area bounded by Kingsway, Upper Dock Street and the existing Kingsway Shopping Centre, including parts of John Frost Square and the bus station...
shopping mall.
Towards the northern end of Newport city centre is Westgate Square, named after the Westgate Hotel
Westgate Hotel
The Westgate Hotel is a historic building in Newport city centre and is famous as the scene of the 1839 Chartist riot, the so-called Newport Rising.It is located at the bottom Stow Hill.-Building history:...
. Here, the five roads of Commercial Street, Stow Hill, Bridge Street, High Street and Skinner Street converge. This is generally regarded as the centre, although the actual centre as measured on road signs is further up Bridge Street outside the Queen's Hotel — adjacent to the central post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
which is where most OS
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
maps pin point the centre of a place to be.
From Bridge Street, the two roads of High Street and Cambrian Road run in parallel to the Newport railway station
Newport railway station
Newport railway station is the 3rd busiest railway station in Wales , situated in Newport city centre. It is part of the British railway system owned by Network Rail and is operated by Arriva Trains Wales, although First Great Western and CrossCountry also provide services...
. Joining them is the covered Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
Newport Arcade. At the western end of the arcade lies the Cambrian Centre
Cambrian Centre
The Cambrian Centre is a small shopping centre in the city of Newport, Wales. Among other units, it houses a Somerfield and one of the city's Wetherspoon's public houses, the John Wallace Linton....
which was due to be redeveloped into the City Spires centre. To the east of High Street is Newport Market
Newport Market
Newport Market is a traditional Victorian indoor market, built in 1854 in Newport, South Wales.It is an early example of a large-span cast iron-frame building featuring a glass-filled barrel roof...
, a Grade II-listed building.
Kingsway/Usk Way is a boulevard on the west bank of the River Usk linking Newport Castle to the western ends of City Bridge
City Bridge
City Bridge is a crossing of the River Usk in the city of Newport, South Wales. It was opened in 2004 as part of the construction/re-generation of the Southern Distributor Road/A48 in Newport....
and Newport Transporter Bridge
Newport Transporter Bridge
The Newport Transporter Bridge is a transporter bridge that crosses the River Usk in Newport, South Wales. It is a Grade I listed structure. Designed by French engineer Ferdinand Arnodin, it was built in 1906 and opened by Godfrey Charles Morgan, 1st Viscount Tredegar on 12 September 1906...
. The city centre is currently being expanded to include areas on the east bank. The area between Newport Bridge
Newport 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 :...
and George Street Bridge is included in the Newport Unlimited
Newport Unlimited
Newport Unlimited is an Urban Regeneration Company created in 2003 to help counter the impacts of the continued decline in heavy industry and manufacturing in Newport: e.g...
master plan as a new high-density combined commercial and residential area, joined to the west bank by the new Newport City footbridge
Newport City footbridge
The Newport City footbridge is a pedestrian/cycle bridge over the River Usk in the city of Newport, United Kingdom.The bridge links the east bank of the river in the vicinity of Colne Street in Maindee to a new public space called Usk Place/University Plaza on the west bank. It is the first major...
. The plan shows a strong urban form along the riverfront, emphasised with tall landmark buildings http://www.newport.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/agenda/cont042922.pdf.