Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Newport Castle
Stow Hill, Newport, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II*
- Broad class
- Defence
- Date of designation
- 26 July 1951
- Community
- Stow Hill
- Unitary authority
- Newport
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.59067, -2.99507
- Cadw reference
- 2997
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Location
Beside River Usk in angle formed by Newport Bridge and Old Green Interchange.
History
Newport was chief town of the lordship of Wentloog, which had been within the lordship of Glamorgan until 1314. The castle was built between 1327 and 1368 by Hugh d’Audele or his son-in-law Ralph, Earl of Stafford, replacing earlier motte-and-bailey castle on Stow Hill, near St Woolos’ church. The castle may never have been completed on the town side. In C15 (1436-47), the castle was improved for Humphrey Stafford, First Duke of Buckingham. After execution of Third Duke (1521), the castle went into decline, and the town gradually encroached. Late C19 photos show a brewery incorporated into ruins. The castle is now pressed between the river, the railway, and modern road system.
Exterior
Red sandstone with pale grey banding and dressings. The main surviving section is the three towers aligned N-S, along the river. The N tower , 2-storeys, semi octagonal, with (to S)adjacent remains of hall with windows to E, fireplace between; adjacent window to ante-room. Great central tower with water gate, ribbed vaulting with floral bosses, octagonal turret in NW angle. To S of central tower, narrow room (from C15 alterations), with adjacent wall-gallery with small windows. South tower (once of 2 storeys but raised by Humphrey Stafford) contained lord’s apartments; fireplaces, corbels remain in situ.
Reason for designation
Graded II* for surviving medieval structure, with St Woolos virtually the only survivor from Newport's medieval past.
Scheduled Ancient Monument Mm 9.
Nearby in the register
- Newport CastleCastleunder 1 mi
- Newport Bridge (partly in St Julians community)Transportunder 1 mi
- Newport Bridge (partly in Stow Hill community)Transportunder 1 mi
- Newport Bridge (partly in St Julians and Stow Hill communities)Transportunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.