A TIMELINE OF NEWPORT
By Tim Lambert
1093 The Normans conquer Gwent
C. 1125 A small town grows up by a castle
1265 A wooden bridge over the River Usk is burned but is rebuilt
1385 Newport is given a charter (a document giving the people certain rights). In the 14th century friars arrive in Newport.
1402 Owain Glendower burns Newport but the town is soon rebuilt
1521 Newport is described as 'a good haven'.
1538 Henry VIII closes Newport friary and confiscates its property
1585 A guildhall is built in Newport
1587 The bridge over the River Usk collapses but is rebuilt
1623 Newport is given a new charter
C. 1780 The Industrial Revolution starts to transform Newport
1798 A canal is completed to Newport to bring coal and iron
1801 Newport has a population of just over 1,000
1812 Cardiff Road and Commercial Road are built
1823 Steam ships sail from Newport to Bristol
1825 The streets of Newport are lit by gas
1831 Newport has a population of about 7,000
1839 A dispensary opens where the poor can obtain free medicines. The Chartist Uprising takes place.
1842 An inland dock called the Town Dock is built. A cemetery opens.
1844 A Cattle Market is built
1847 Newport gains a piped water supply
1849 Cholera kills 69 people in Newport
1850 The railway reaches Newport
1851 The population of Newport is about 19,000
1856 In Newport 59 people die of typhus
1859 A network of sewers is completed in Newport
1871 The first public library opens
1875 Alexandra Dock is built. Horse drawn trams begin running in the streets.
1889 The boundaries of Newport are extended to include the area east of the river
1894 Belle Vue Park opens
1895 The first electricity generating station in Newport opens
1901 Gwent Hospital is founded. The population of Newport is 67,000.
1904 Electric trams replace the horse drawn ones
1906 Newport Transporter Bridge is built
1913 The British Womens Temperance Fountain is built
1924 A cenotaph is erected in Newport
1935 The population of Newport is about 100,000
1937 The last trams run in Newport
1949 St Woolos Church is made a Cathedral
1962 Spencer steelworks opens
1964 Exports of coal move to Barry
1968 Newport Museum and Art Gallery is built
1975 Imports of iron move to Port Talbot. Docks Way is built.
1980 The Archform sculpture is built
1991 The Steel Wave sculpture is created
1992 The exploding clock is built
1994 'This little piggy went to market' is built
1996 The Bell Carrier is built
2002 Newport is made a city