Newport Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newport Castle |
|
|---|---|
| Newport, Wales | |
 |
|
 Newport Castle
|
|
| Coordinates | 51°35′26″N 2°59′42″W / 51.590621°N 2.994993°W |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Site history | |
| Built | 14th century |
| Battles/wars | Sacked by Owain Glyndŵr |
| Type: | Grade II listed |
| Designated: | 1951 |
Newport Castle (called Castell Casnewydd in Welsh) is a castle in Newport, Wales that is now in ruins. It was built in the 14th century. It was likely built by Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester or his son-in-law, Ralph, Earl of Stafford. The main reason for building it was to control the crossing of the River Usk.
The castle was used as an office to collect money and fees from people living nearby. It was also a home and a place for soldiers to stay. In 1402, Owain Glyndŵr's forces attacked and damaged it. By 1522, the castle was already falling apart. Later, during the English Civil War, Oliver Cromwell's army took control of it. Over the years, it was used less and less. Since 1951, it has been recognized as a special historic building, called a Grade II* Listed building.
Contents
Where is Newport Castle Located?
The castle is in the city of Newport. You can find it between the Newport Bridge and the nearby railway bridge. It sits on the west side of the River Usk. It is also very close to the B4591 road, near the Old Green interchange.
What Did Newport Castle Look Like?
The castle was built using Old Red Sandstone and local grey limestone. It used to have a moat around it. A moat is a deep, wide ditch, usually filled with water, that protects a castle. Inside the moat was a rectangular court with strong walls.
When it was new, the castle would have looked very grand. It stood out over the town and the river crossing. It had three tall towers. There was a large rectangular tower in the middle and two smaller, two-story towers at each end. These towers were connected by straight walls. The castle's shape followed the line of the river bank.
One special part of the castle was a vaulted room above a watergate. A watergate was a strong gate used by people and supplies arriving by boat. There were small towers, called turrets, above the watergate.
Inside the castle, there was a large hall, a kitchen, a gallery, and other rooms. After some changes in the 15th century, made by Humphrey Stafford, there were also fancy apartments. The lord's own rooms were in the south tower. Experts say that the T-shaped room in the central tower, above the watergate, was very impressive. It must have been used for important ceremonies.
Old maps from 1750 show pictures of the castle. A detailed drawing of the castle's layout was published in 1885.
Over time, new buildings and projects changed the castle area. A railway, a railway bridge, and a new inner road were built. These projects destroyed most of the inner courtyard and removed the moat. Today, only the east side of the castle remains. It used to be built to face the river, with no special defenses on the side facing the road.
History of Newport Castle
The First Castle
The very first castle in Newport was called "Castell Newyd ar Uysc" (New Castle on the River Usk). It was a motte castle, which means it had a mound (motte) with a wooden tower and a walled area (bailey). It was probably built by William Rufus around 1075. We are not sure exactly where it was, but many think it was on Stow Hill, near St Woolos Church. This is about half a mile southwest of where the current castle stands.
The first time a castle in Newport was mentioned in writing was in 1126. In 1171, William, Earl of Gloucester, had soldiers stationed there. But the next year, a Welsh leader named Iorwerth destroyed the castle.
Records show that King Henry II visited "New Castle on the River Usk" around 1172. In 1185, money was spent on fixing the castle and its bridge. The castle was rebuilt in 1249 by Henry III. In 1265, the Earl of Leicester held it. Later that year, Prince Edward took over the castle. In 1295, when he became king, he ordered more improvements.
In 1320, the castle was given to Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester. Two years later, Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March attacked it. He took its furniture and set it on fire. It took 300 trees to rebuild it!
The few remains of this first Norman castle were probably buried when a railway tunnel was dug in 1846.
The Second Castle: 14th and 15th Centuries
.jpg)
The second castle in Newport, which is the one we call Newport Castle today, was built in the 14th century. It might have been built by Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester. He took control of the land in 1326. Or, it might have been built by his son-in-law, Ralph, Earl of Stafford. Historians think it was built between 1327 and 1386. A coin from the time of Edward III (1327-1377) was found during an excavation in 1845.
The castle had a very important position overlooking the river. It helped control river crossings and trade. At this time, Newport became the main town of the Wentlooge area.
The castle was first officially written about in 1405. This was when it was repaired after being attacked in 1402 during the rebellion led by Owain Glyndŵr. Around 1435, Humphrey Stafford, who was the Lord of Newport, did more work on the castle. In 1460, Owen Tudor was held prisoner inside the castle.
Newport Castle was mostly used as an administrative center. This means it was an office for the lords to collect money and fees from people living in the area. It was not often used as the lord's main home.
From the 16th to 19th Centuries
In the early 16th century, Henry VIII's uncle, Jasper Tudor, lived in the castle. In 1521, Henry VIII took control of the castle. It stayed with the king until 1547, when Edward VI took possession. By 1522, the castle was already reported to be in bad condition because it wasn't being looked after. In 1548, William Herbert of St. Julian leased the castle.
In 1645, during the English Civil War, Colonel Henry Herbert placed 50 soldiers at the castle. However, Oliver Cromwell's forces captured it in 1648. The Herbert and Morgan families owned the castle for over 300 years, starting in 1548. By 1743, it was in ruins.
In the 19th century, the buildings inside the ruins were used for different purposes. First, it was a tannery, a place where animal hides are turned into leather. Later, it became a brewery. The castle's beautiful windows were destroyed during this century. The brewery itself was destroyed by a fire in 1883.
In 1891, the south tower became owned by the Newport Corporation (now Newport City Council). The rest of the castle was bought by Lord Tredegar in 1899. Between 1930 and 1950, the Office of Works looked after the castle. During this time, the stonework was repaired.
20th and 21st Centuries
Today, only the east side of the castle is still standing. It has been a Grade II* Listed building since 1951, meaning it's a very important historic site. In 1970, a new inner ring road was built right next to the castle.
For safety reasons, the castle ruins were fenced off in 2003. The public footpath was closed in 2006. Since 2011, the castle has been completely closed to visitors because of safety concerns.
Images for kids
-
Newport Castle by J. M. W. Turner, painted around 1796. It's a watercolour and graphite drawing on paper.
