Newent facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Newent
The Market House, Newent
Newent
Population	6,277 (parish, 2021 Census)
OS grid reference	SO7225
Civil parish	Newent
District	Forest of Dean
Shire county	Gloucestershire
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	NEWENT
Postcode district	GL18
Dialling code	01531
Police	Gloucestershire
Fire	Gloucestershire
Ambulance	Great Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	Forest of Dean
List of places UK England Gloucestershire 51°56′N 2°24′W / 51.93°N 2.40°W / 51.93; -2.40

Newent is a historic market town and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It's located in the Forest of Dean area, about 11 kilometres (7 miles) northwest of Gloucester. In 2021, about 6,777 people lived here. Newent has been a settled place since Roman times, and it was first mentioned in the famous Domesday Book in 1086. It was once a busy place for markets and fairs.

What's in a Name? The Meaning of Newent

Newent's original name was "Noent." This name might have meant "new place" in an old Celtic language. Another idea is that it meant "new inn." This would refer to a place where travellers going to Wales could stay. A writer named John Leland (who lived from about 1503 to 1552) talked about a house called New Inn. This house later became The Boothall and offered lodging on the road to Wales.

Newent's Location and Surroundings

Newent is found on the northern edge of the Forest of Dean. It's part of the Forest of Dean District in Gloucestershire. The town is only about 4 kilometres (3 miles) east of the Herefordshire border. It is also southeast of the River Wye. In the late 1700s, the 34-mile Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal connected Newent to Gloucester via the River Wye.

A Look Back: Newent's History

Ancient Roman Times in Newent

A Roman road once connected Newent to Ariconium, which is now near Ross-on-Wye. Within 1.6 kilometres (1 mile) of Newent, archaeologists have found several Roman metal-working sites. There are also signs of Romano-British settlements at 56 other spots within 9.7 kilometres (6 miles) of the town. Finds include Roman coins and pottery near Newent itself, and a Roman treasure at Little Gorsley.

Medieval Newent: Priories and Markets

A priory (a type of monastery) was built in Newent. It was connected to Cormeilles Abbey in Normandy, France, which was founded in 1060. The abbey received land and property in England, including Newent, from its founder. This Benedictine priory later became part of a college during the Hundred Years' War with France. Today, the Court House stands where the priory once was, next to the local church.

The Domesday Book of 1086 shows that before the Norman Conquest in 1066, Edward the Confessor was the lord of Newent. By 1086, Cormeilles Abbey was a main owner. Newent was a busy place with 34.5 households, including villagers, small farmers, and servants.

In 1226, King Henry III allowed Newent to hold an annual fair. A weekly market was also approved in 1253. The town still has a special half-timbered building called the Market House.

St Mary's Church: A Historic Landmark

The Church of England Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a very old building in Church Street. It was built in the 13th century, but people believe the site has been used for worship since the Anglo-Saxon period.

St Mary's has beautiful stained glass windows made by the famous company Clayton and Bell. The church has a 20-metre (65-foot) tower with eight bells and a 27-metre (88-foot) spire. The church organ was built in 1737 by Thomas Warne, who lived in Newent.

Newent in the 1800s

By 1848, Newent had a population of 3,099 people, with 1,454 living in the town itself. This was actually fewer people than in earlier times. There were also natural mineral springs near the canal.

The Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal was closed in 1881. The section between Ledbury and Gloucester was turned into a railway line. This railway opened in 1885 as part of the Great Western Railway. It closed in 1959, but parts of the canal are now being restored.

Historic Buildings Still Standing

Church Street, Newent

Newent has many old buildings. These include the Market House, which stands on stilts, and other black-and-white, half-timbered buildings. These are typical of the Gloucestershire and Herefordshire areas.

Historic England lists over 50 buildings and monuments in the town centre. This includes most of Church Street and the Devonia in High Street, which is a Georgian period house. The Court House, built in the early 1700s, stands in a small park next to the church. It is believed to be built on the foundations of the old priory. It has a beautiful plaster ceiling and rooms with wooden panels.

Getting Around: Transport in Newent

The closest railway station is about 14.5 kilometres (9 miles) away at Ledbury. This station is on the Cotswold Line. Buses also run through Newent, connecting it to towns like Ross, Ledbury, and Gloucester. For example, the 32 bus route goes between Gloucester and Ross-on-Wye.

Newent used to have its own railway station, which opened in 1885. It closed to passengers in 1959 and for freight in 1964. You can still see parts of the old Station Bridge in Old Station Road.

Fun Things to Do: Outdoor Attractions

Newent is close to some interesting places. Just east of the nearby village of Cliffords Mesne is the National Birds of Prey Centre. There's also a vineyard called Three Choirs. Newent is in an area known as the Golden Triangle, named for the many daffodils that grow there.

The town used to host the Newent Onion Fayre. This festival included competitions for growing and eating onions! It started again in 1996, bringing back an old agricultural fair. It was once Gloucestershire's largest free one-day festival, attracting up to 15,000 visitors. However, the fair was cancelled in 2022.

Arts and Culture in Newent

Newent has a lively arts scene. It's home to an orchestra, which started in 1940, and a choral society. There are also several other groups for amateur musicians and performers.

Traditionally, May Day was celebrated with morris dancing at dawn on top of nearby May Hill. After this, the dancers would walk into Newent. From 2007 to 2014, a Joe Meek festival was held in the town. The artist Paul Nash took many photographs around Newent in the late 1930s or early 1940s. These pictures are now kept in the archives of the Tate museum.

Learning in Newent: Education

In the 1500s, during the reign of King Edward VI, people noticed that Newent needed more schools. Today, Newent has three schools, all within the town. Glebe Infant School and Picklenash Junior School work together to provide primary education. Newent Community School offers secondary education for students aged 11 and older.

Local News and Media

Local news and TV shows for Newent come from BBC West Midlands and ITV Central. TV signals are received from the Ridge Hill TV transmitter.

For radio, Newent is served by BBC Hereford & Worcester and BBC Radio Gloucestershire. Other stations include Heart West, Greatest Hits Radio South West, and Dean Radio. Dean Radio is a community station that broadcasts to the Forest of Dean. The local newspaper for the town is called The Forester.

Sports and Recreation

• The town's football team, Newent Town AFC, plays in the Hellenic League System. They have won several titles, including the North Gloucester Premier League in 2013. Their home pitch and clubhouse are at Wildsmith Meadow.
• Newent RFC plays Rugby Union in the Gloucester Premier Division. Their home ground is at the recreation ground in Watery Lane. They were promoted as Champions of Division 1 in 2013.
• Newent Cricket Club plays in the Gloucestershire County Cricket League, Division 2. The club is located at Three Ashes Lane, just outside Newent.
• Newent Leisure Centre is run by the Forest of Dean District Council. It's located within the grounds of Newent Community School. The centre has a gym, an indoor arena, a squash court, and a swimming pool. There are also tennis courts and an all-weather artificial turf pitch for football and hockey.

Famous People from Newent

This first Joe Meek plaque at 1 Market Square was replaced by an official blue plaque in 2011

• Rutland Boughton – An English composer who lived near Newent for much of his life.
• Alex Cuthbert – A Welsh rugby star who went to Newent Community School. He scored important tries for Wales in the Six Nations games.
• Charlotte Dujardin – A gold medal winner in dressage at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. She is based in Newent.
• Stuart Fleetwood – A professional footballer who attended Newent Community School. He played for various Newent Youth Football teams.
• Andi Gladwin – A well-known magician who went to Newent Community School. He has appeared on TV shows like Penn & Teller: Fool Us.
• Carl Hester – A gold medal winner in dressage at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He is also based in Newent.
• Vicky Holland – The World Triathlon Champion in 2018. She went to Newent Community School and won an Olympic medal in triathlon.
• Joe Meek – A famous record producer and songwriter. He was born in Newent and produced the 1962 number 1 hit 'Telstar'.
• Michael Steven Park – A rally co-driver who was one of the best of his time. He sadly died in an accident during a rally race in 2005.

See also

In Spanish: Newent para niños