|
This spectacularly impressive late 17th century mansion once stood at the centre of an estate extending to some 1,000 acres of parkland. Gradually overshadowed by urbanisation, and the M4 running along its boundary, the park has been reduced to just 90 acres, but is beautifully laid out.
Since the beginning of the 15th century, Tredegar was owned by one of the great Welsh families, the Morgans, and after the Civil War the present grand house was built, incorporating the south-west wing of the earlier medieval house. With the marriage of William Morgan and Blanche Morgan in 1661, not only was the splendid mansion completed with the help of her huge dowry, but also the joining of these two influential families made them a powerful force to be reckoned with over the next 250 years. Their fortunes continued to flourish down the generations, tremendously enhanced by the foresight and business enterprises of Sir Charles Gould Morgan throughout the 18th century.
Following his father's financial successes, his son further expanded several commercial and industrial projects, and virtually established Newport as an important trade centre. Whilst consolidating their influence on the political and economic issues of the country, the Morgans had been desperately trying to secure a title as the final stamp of approval. They finally managed to secure a baronetcy in 1859, and in 1905 the first Viscount Tredegar was created.
• Tredegar House Pics
|
|
Having achieved this pinnacle of recognition after centuries of proving their dominance and wealth, it is perhaps ironic that this also signalled the eventual demise of the Morgan family. Extravagance, eccentricities, and weighty death duties seriously depleted the family's financial assets throughout the next three generations until, in 1951, Tredegar House was stripped, the remaining contents auctioned, and the estate was sold. For 23 years Tredegar House served as a school but it was finally purchased by Newport Borough Council in the 1970s. With considerable financial help, this beautiful house has been gradually restored to something resembling its former splendour.
No records survive to identify the designer or builder of Tredegar House, but much of the external embellishment does seem to be after the style of Inigo Jones'. Internally, the rooms have been restored as far as possible to an original condition, and furnished with the aid of old photographs and inventories. Although the majority of contents were scattered at the sale of Tredegar House, some have since been recovered, and returned to their rightful place in the house. The rare 'Tredegar Salt', a silver salt cellar inscribed with the Morgan family crest, was discovered at auction a few years ago and purchased for a staggering sum in order to be reinstated in the dining room.
Highly informative, and often amusing, the guided tours of Tredegar House offer the visitor an opportunity to explore the architectural delights of the house, take in the family history, and learn a little about some of the bizarre family traits. There was Catherine who, believing she was a bird, made numerous nests and even some big enough for her to sit in, and Evan who kept a menagerie of strange animals, and had a macabre interest in black magic. In the grounds are several old barns and outbuildings from various times, and a very 'upmarket' stable block that was quite clearly modelled on the main house. A separate orangery is approached through a walled garden containing a stunning 18th century parterre created from an assortment of gravel, crushed shells and grass.
|
The demands of modern transport have almost squeezed this castle out of existence: most lies under roads, and only the east side survives, sandwiched between a road and a railway bridge. However, what little remains is not without interest, and the best place from which to get an impression of its original grandeur is half-way across the adjacent bridge, from where its position right on the bank of the river Usk can best be appreciated. The projecting central tower with its water-gate or dock beneath is the dominant feature. Flanking it are two octagonal towers with prominent spur buttresses. These mark the north and south end of the castle, from which a curtain wall ran westwards enclosing a roughly rectangular area. Outside the curtain wall was a deep moat which filled with sea water at high tide.
The castle was built between 1327 and 1386 by Hugh d'Audele or his son-in-law Ralph, earl of Stafford. It replaced an earlier motte and bailey castle on Stow Hill, near the cathedral. Newport was the headquarters of the Norman lordship of Wentloog or Gwynlliog, which had been within the lordship of Glamorgan until 1314. The new stone castle reflected Wentloog's enhanced status as a separate lordship. The castle was of the usual medieval type with a curtain was enclosing a courtyard or ward. Towers punctuated its sides and there would have been at least one entrance gatehouse.
|
|
In the middle of the remaining castle is the great central tower (shown at right) which originally extended further westwards. From the west it is possible to make out all its principle features - the water-gate beneath, which was closed by a portcullis, the room above with its fine ribbed vaulting, a spiral staircase housed in a much restored octagonal turret in the north-west corner, and the stub of an upper storey. The main room probably would have been the lord's audience chamber.
To the south of the central tower was a long narrow room dating from the 15th century rebuilding. The lord's apartments were in this tower, which was originally two storeys high but was heightened to three by Humphrey Stafford. The quality of the decorated windows, the fireplaces and the carved corbels on the upper floor indicate sophistication and comfort.
Newport castle had an active life of only about 200 years, and during very little of this time was it actually occupied by its lord. For a brief time at the beginning of the 16th century Jasper Tudor, Henry VIII's uncle, lived here. It played no significant part in national politics, and its main function was the day-to-day administration of the lordship of Wentloog.
• Newport Castle Pics
|
|
|
|
Caerleon was the site of one of Britain's three Roman Legionary Fortresses and many believe it to be the location of King Arthur's Camelot.
The valley of the River Usk would have provided plentiful resources for prehistoric hunter-gatherers; their transitory passage left little lasting trace on the landscape. With the development of farming it is likely that the area was gradually settled, albeit sparsely.
By the Iron Age, a recognisable pattern of settlement had developed around Caerleon. Lodge Wood hillfort, overlooking Caerleon, was the largest of a group of defended sites clustered around the confluence of the Afon Lwyd and the River Usk. Smaller enclosures on surrounding hills, such as those at Pen-toppen-ash and Cae Cam, were probably family-held farmsteads. The inhabitants of these farms would, of necessity, have practised a mixed agricultural strategy of cultivation and animal husbandry. Limited archaeological evidence suggests that in the Iron Age the land below Lodge Wood hillfort was grassland with patches of scrub and small trees, probably used for grazing.
• More info on Roman Caerleon and Pics
|
|
John Frost was born in Newport, Wales, on 25th May, 1784. John's father died when he was a child and he was raised by his grandparents. After a brief period at school he became an apprentice bootmaker to his grandfather. At the age of sixteen he left home and became a tailor in Cardiff. He then spent periods working as a tailor in Bristol and London.
Frost returned to Newport in 1806 to start his own business. Frost's business prospered and in 1809 he became a burgess. He also married and during the next eleven years his wife had eight children. Frost was a passionate reader and was deeply influenced by the political works of Tom Paine and William Cobbett.
In 1821 Frost became involved in a legal dispute with Thomas Prothero, a Newport solicitor. The original problem concerned the will of John Frost's uncle, William Foster. Frost accused Prothero of being responsible for Foster's decision to exclude Frost from his will. When Frost included this in a letter, Prothero sued for libel and in March 1822, Frost was fined £1,000. Frost continued to accuse Prothero of malpractice and in February 1823, he was found guilty of libel again, and this time he was sent to prison for six months.
Frost was told he would serve a long prison sentence if he repeated his allegations against Thomas Prothero. Frost therefore decided to direct his anger against Prothero's close friend, Sir Charles Morgan, one of the major landowners in Newport. In 1830 he wrote a pamphlet, A Christmas Box for Sir Charles Morgan, where he accused the landowner of badly treating his tenants. In the pamphlet John Frost also advocated that universal suffrage and secret ballots was the only way to curb the power of people like Sir Charles Morgan.
• More info on John Frost and Pics
|
|
|
Tredegar House