Newport, Commercial Street c.1899
Photo ref: 47896
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Photo ref: 47896
Photo of Newport, Commercial Street c.1899

More about this scene

The Town Hall tower (centre right), designed by T M Lockwood and E A Landsdowne, was opened in 1885. It has since been demolished to make way for the British Home Stores. We can also see Newman & Sons piano warehouse on the left, with the Lipton Market, a grocery store, further along. Opposite is the Westgate Hotel, which was the gathering place for the Chartist march which had set off from Blackwood, Nantyglo and Pontypool. Twenty people were killed in the ensuing riot, and bullet holes could until recently still be seen inside the building. Note the horse-drawn tram in the centre of the picture.

A Selection of Memories from Newport

For many years now, we've been inviting visitors to our website to add their own memories to share their experiences of life as it was, prompted by the photographs in our archive. Here are some from Newport

Sparked a Memory for you?

If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?

My early memories are of the Nash Road Prefabs. Those flat roofed single level houses built after the war. These were later named Cheshire Avenue. We, Mum, Dad and brother John, lived at No 35 overlooking the field owned by farmer Dicky Walters. I have great memories of playing with other kids in the fields and Spytty Park. I remember going to the bake house on Nash Road at the end of the day and buying a loaf of bread for ...see more
I remember walking over the top of the bridge with my father in the summer of 1953; a sunny day with a light wind... whenever in Newport alway remember this walk.
My Grandfather Ben John owned a grocery store called Monmouth Dairy opposite the Handpost - on the right hand side of this picture. I was born in 1944 and have lived most of my life in Africa - but as a very young boy I have vivid memories of my father, Derrek and my grandfather, slipping in there for a quick pint after work - I was left in the entrance hall with a lemonade. In 2007 at Christmas time I was back there ...see more
My father, John, was a doctor at his surgery/house, Corporation Road and I and my brother John plus mother and father were in the shelter when the mine was dropped. I remember a discussion later about loss of panel patients (Lysaghts and Mannesment) in that street - mother kept the books! I well remember the troops camping on the rugby pitch prior to D-day. I went out one morning and all the troops were gone. It took me ...see more