Newport, Gwent, Town Defences

Has been described as a Certain Urban Defence

There are no visible remains

NameNewport, Gwent, Town Defences
Alternative NamesCasnewydd; Novus Burgus
Historic CountryMonmouthshire
Modern AuthorityNewport
1974 AuthorityGwent
CommunityAllt-yr-yn

John Leland enumerated three gates in the 1530's; the East Gate by the bridge; the North Gate above the castle: and the West Gate which stood at the junction of Commercial Street and Stow Hill, but he curiously added that he 'marked not whyther ye were waulled or no'. Obviously all traces had already disappeared and the total absence of remains at this relatively early date suggest that the town was not walled in stone and was defended only by an earthen bank with perhaps an outer ditch, only the gates being masonry structures. The early plans add nothing to our knowledge of this subject, although Coxe states that the borough was walled. (Soulsby)

Gatehouse Comments

Clearly had gates, but the suggestion of an embankment is highly speculative (c.f. Beverley, Yorkshire)

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceST304883
Latitude51.5879287719727
Longitude-2.99668002128601
Eastings330400
Northings188300
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Salter, Mike, 2013, Medieval Walled Towns (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 178
  • Hopkins, T., 2008, 'The Towns' in R. Griffiths, T. Hopkins and R. Howell (eds), The Gwent County History (Cardiff: University of Wales Press) Vol. 2 The Age of the Marcher Lords, c. 1070-1536 p. 115-141
  • Creighton, O.H. and Higham, R.A., 2005, Medieval Town Walls (Stroud: Tempus) p. 27, 37, 204, 273
  • Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p. 25
  • Bond, C.J., 1987, 'Anglo-Saxon and Medieval Defences' in Schofield, J. and Leech, R. (eds), Urban Archaeology in Britain (CBA Research Report 61) p. 92-116 online copy
  • Soulsby, Ian, 1983, The Towns of Medieval Wales (Phillimore; Chichester) p. 202-6
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 290
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co) p. 245
  • Coxe, W., 1801, An Historical Tour in Monmouthshire (London) Vol. 1 p. 66

Antiquarian

  • Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1906, Leland's Itinerary in Wales  (Bell and Sons; London) p. 14 online copy

Journals

  • Trett, B., 2009, 'A topographical survey of medieval Newport' Monmouthshire Antiquarian Vol. 25/26 p. 53-84
  • Trett, B., 2007, 'Did Newport have a town wall?' S.O.S.: the Newsletter of the Friends of the Newport Ship Vol. 11 p. 6-8 online copy
  • Creighton, Oliver, 2006, ''Castles of Communities': Medieval Town Defences in England; Wales and Gascony' Château Gaillard Vol. 22 p. 75-86
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 116 p. 71-132