Newport is in South Wales. It has a population of around 146,000 and covers approximately 19,000 hectares. Here is a list of nearby or neighbouring counties: Caerphilly, Cardiff, Monmouthshire, Torfaen.
Located on the River Usk, Newport (Casnewydd in Welsh) was the site of Celtic hill forts, a Roman fort, a now destroyed 11th century Norman castle and in the 14th century Newport Castle, of which fenced off ruins remain. The town grew to become a busy port in the medieval period and during the Industrial Revolution much of the coal mined in Wales passed through Newport, which was the location in 1839 of the final large scale rising in Britain. In the year 2002 the county borough of Newport gained city status and although many traditional industries have declined, the towns good transport links and infrastructure regeneration have helped to support the local economy. The city has a number of works of public art, including the sculpture Newport Wave, a collection of murals depicting local history that decorate the listed Art Deco style Newport Civic Centre and a statue commemorating the Welsh poet WH Davies, who was born in the town. There is an indoor market which was built during the 19th century and houses a variety of stalls and there are a number of parks and museums. Newport Cathedral was first built using wood in the 5th century, rebuilt using stone in the 9th century and has been repaired and extended during subsequent centuries, though some parts remain from the pre Norman period.
Attractions in Newport include the Riverfront Arts Centre, opened in 2004, which has a cinema that shows cutting edge films and a theatre, where events held include drama, dance, comedy, opera and music. There is an art gallery in the centre that hosts exhibitions of work such as painting, photography and sculpture, including work by local artists. Also workshops are held teaching crafts such as ceramics, visual arts and performing arts including dance and theatre. The centre has been suggested as a home for the restored Newport Ship, a unique 15th century merchant ship which was discovered by archaeologists in 2002. Newport Museum and Art Gallery has collections of archaeology, art, social and natural history that help to tell the story of the local area through the centuries. The art gallery has exhibits such as paintings, prints and ceramics by a range of artists, including work by local artists. Built during the 17th century, Tredegar House is considered to be one of the best preserved Restoration mansions in Britain and since coming under the management of the National Trust the house can be opened to the public. A range of events are held at the house each year and it has been used as a film location for a number of television programmes. Inside there are rooms whose interiors reflect different periods of the history of the house in their decorations and furnishings and the house is surrounded by beautiful parkland and formal gardens.
(Born 1931 in Newport in Newport), Fiction
Leslie Thomas was a British author who wrote many novels and is particularly well known for his comic novel The Virgin Soldiers. In December 2004 he was made officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to literature.
(Born 1871 in Pillgwenlly in Newport), Poetry
Also known as W.H.Davies, he was a Welsh poet and writer. Spending a large part of his life as a tramp in the UK and the USA, his main topic was based on lifes hardship and his experiences as a tramp. He also wrote poems based on his love of nature. One of his notable works was The Autobiography of a Super-Tramp.
