PLAN OF NEWPORT ON USK, 1837

Source:
Municipal Corporation Boundaries (England and Wales) - Newport (Monmouth)
1837

Text:
NEWPORT, (Monmouth.)

REPORT upon the PROPOSED DIVISION of the BOROUGH of NEWPORT into WARDs.

ANCIENT LIMITS OF THE BOROUGH.
1. THE Limits of the old Municipal Borough embrace the far greater proportion of the Town of Newport as at present constituted, but the Buildings are extending in several directions beyond these limits, particularly towards the South, the East and the West. The Parliamentary Boundary, however, which by the Act is taken to be the future extent of the Municipal limits, includes all these buildings, and allows for the probable rapid and very considerable increase of the Town.

The New Borough is situated partly in the Parish of Saint Woollos and partly in that of Christ Church, and extends about two mites from North to South, and about one mile from East to West.

The ancient Municipal limits comprehend but a small part of the Parish of Saint Woollos.

SAINT WOOLLOS PARISH.
2. Saint Woollos is an extensive agricultural district, except that portion within the Parliamentary Boundary, which from its proximity to the Town, and the probable future occupation of it by buildings growing out of or connected with the Town, may be considered as forming the suburbs of Newport.

The Rates for the Old Borough and the extra-burgal portion of the Parish of Saint Woollos are raised separately.

CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
The portion of the Parish of Christ Church included within the Parliamentary Boundary, consists of a slip of land running nearly parallel with the River. The Parish itself embraces an extensive agricultural district, but the above portion may be considered as connected in interest with the Town, and partaking of the character of the extra-burgal part of Saint Woollos within the same Boundary.

THE TOWN.
The Town of Newport is situated on the Western bank of the River Usk. It is difficult to define its precise limits, as it is spreading in every direction on the Western side of the River, particularly towards the South, where it wilt probably soon be united with the little Village of Pillgwenlly, lying on the North bank of a reach of the River. The upper or North part of the Town contains the most respectable Inhabitants and Shops, and is also the oldest part of the Town. The population towards the South consists of a greater admixture of classes, and of the newest buildings; it is in this part also that building speculations more generally prevail.

LIGHTING, WATCHING AND PAVING.
By the Act of the 7 Geo. 4, c. 6, Commissioners are empowered to raise a sum not exceeding 1s. 3d. in the pound, on the rack-rent for the purposes of lighting, watching, paving, &c. It appears, however, from the information furnished by the Clerk of the Commissioners, that only 1s. in the pound is raised for these purposes on the above valuation.

The amount of Population, Poor's Rates, &c., will be found in the annexed Table.

STATE OF TRADE.
3. Newport is extensively engaged in the Iron and Tin Trade, and in the export of Coals. "It is connected with Pont-y-Pool and Crumlin, by Canals. Iron and Coal are brought from the former, Coal only from the latter. The tram-roads connect Newport with the Romney, Tredegar, Sirhowy, Ebbwvale, and Beaufort Iron Works." (Parliamentary Boundary Report.) Newport may be considered as a very thriving place; new Docks and Wharfs are building or in contemplation, and the Town is rapidly increasing.

OBSERVATIONS ON DIVISION INTO WARDS.
4. Two modes of dividing the Borough into Wards were suggested. The first and apparently the simplest division was that of forming the upper and lower parts into two Wards, by a line drawn through Llanarth-street, Charles-street and along Stow-hill, to the Boundary on the West, and by a straight Line due East from Llanarth-street to the Boundary on the East. But against this a strong objection existed, in the fact that the Upper Ward would contain the far greater proportion of respectable houses, shops and old inhabitants, and the smaller space for building ground.

The second suggestion has therefore been decided upon, which by dividing the old and new part of the Town and the building space, together with the frontage to the River between the two Wards, appears to establish as nearly as possible, a balance of wealth, respectability and condition. The Line proposed, moreover, is in accordance with that adopted by the Revising Barristers, whose remarks appear just, that the equality of wealth and condition at present obtained, cannot be expected to continue, owing to the rapid increase of the Town, and the thriving state of its trade and navigation; at the same time it would be difficult to suggest any Line that should meet these future contingencies.

DESCRIPTION OF THE WARDS.
5. The description of the Wards will, with a slight alteration, be the same as that contained in the Award of the Revising Barristers.

East Ward: - From the Point (opposite the Castle) at which the Boundary of the Borough leaves the River Usk, Southward, along the River Usk to the Bridge; thence along High Street to the Point at which the same meets Commercial Street; thence along Commercial Street to the Point at which the same meets the Commercial Road; thence along the Commercial Road to the Point at which the same meets Pottery Lane; thence, Eastward, along Pottery Lane and along a straight Line drawn in continuation of Pottery Lane to the Point at which such straight Line cuts the River Usk; thence, Southward, along the River Usk to the Point at which the same meets the Boundary of the Borough; thence, Eastward, along the Boundary of the Borough to the Point first described.

West Ward: - From the Point (opposite the Castle) at which the Boundary of the Borough leaves the River Usk, Southward, along the River Usk to the Bridge; thence along High Street to the Point at which-the same meets Commercial Street; thence along Commercial Street to the Point at which the same meets the Commercial Road; thence along the Commercial Road to the Point at which the same meets Pottery Lane; thence, Eastward, along Pottery Lane and along a straight Line drawn in continuation of Pottery Lane to the Point at which such straight Line cuts the-River Usk; thence, Southward, along the River Usk to the Point at which the same meets the Boundary of the Borough; thence, Westward, along the Boundary of the Borough to the Point first described.

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