Newport Castle

Newport Castle^[1] 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.

Newport Castle from the east bank. Note the watergate in the centre tower.

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 Usk 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.^[2]

River water-gate

The best view of the castle is not from the 'front' on the roadside, but rather from Newport Bridge 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.

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 Wentloog (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

Ground plan of Newport Castle, showing the portions surviving in 1858. From Archaeologia Cambrensis, 1885

Historians believe that Newport Castle was built between 1327 and 1386 by Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester, 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.^[3] 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.

References

1. ^ Photo
2. ^ Path closed after castle crimes BBC.co.uk, May 10, 2006, accessed December 21, 2010
3. ^ A list of all the Constables, with their forces, appointed to the Welsh castles against Glendower is in: Acts of Privy Council, Bibl. Cotton Cleopatra F111.f.42b. Contemporary MS ordinances of the Council respecting the Fortresses in Wales. 3 or 4 Henry IV (1402-3)

External links

• Newport castle at Castlewales.com

Coordinates: 51°35′26.82″N 2°59′42.02″W / 51.5907833°N 2.9950056°W / 51.5907833; -2.9950056