Volume 1, Number 37

Welcome to another issue of The Newport Cornucopia where we dig through the newspapers archives for interesting news articles and adverts. All articles are posted verbatim and most headlines are original (headlines in quotes are my own).

'Lamb Cottages'

At our Newport History Socials we talk about all sorts of things related to Newport and at our recent social on August 19th, one of the attendees mentioned a house on Stow Hill which looked out of place. The house doesn't match houses on either side in terms of size or the materials used and this could indicate being built in a different period.

Being curious I did a bit of research and in the same location as the house was a row of five houses called Lamb Cottages. They existed at a time when Bryn-hyfryd House still existed almost next door. Bryn-hyfyrd no longer exists but it does appear that one of the cottages is still there today.

The footprint of the house, including the garage, match the houses that appeared on a map from 1884 (bottom left) and in Jun 1987, the house was up for sale. Interestingly the name of the house had been taken from the row it once belonged to and was called Lambs Cottages.

'Blocking a Path From Bassaleg Road to Baneswell'

[TO THE EDITOR]

SIR,
From time immemorial, a path has been the public, leading from Caira gate, on the Bassalleg road down across the fields to Banes-well. This path was not only a great convenience, as it led from the Bassalleg road by a short cut, direct into the centre of the town, but it was also a delightful walk.

Now, sir, within the last month, some persons have illegally dared to close up the approach to the path, or public way, by wooden palings nailed to the gate, thereby infringing upon the rights and privileges of the people. I have only to say, that if those daring offenders do not remove the obnoxious palings, the first time I take a walk across the fields, I shall, without hesitation, knock off a sufficient number of the said palings to allow me to cross over with ease and comfort; and I advise every man who is fond of a walk on a summer's evening, and can feel pleasure in delightful views, to go up that way, and if he find any unlawful impediment in the path, let him remove it.

By inserting the above in the MERLIN, you will oblige
Your obedient servant. Newport, June 10, 1850.
CABACTACUS.

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 15th June, 1850

'Offensive Smells in Baneswell'

[TO THE EDITOR.]

SIR
I presume it must be gratifying to every thoughtful and philanthropic person who has a desire for the welfare of his species, to mark how careful you are at all times to expose and condemn everything that is likely to be injurious to the inhabitants of this town and neighbourhood, as may be seen from the startling fact recorded in your paper of last week.

Prompted by somewhat the same views and motives, I beg to call your attention, and that of the authorities to the back part of Banes-well (or that fronting S, W.), which is really a complete nuisance, arising from the offensive smell of the slaughter house, and other smells mingling together, which, if not early removed, must ultimately prove detrimental to the public health.

I am, sir, your obedient servant, Newport, June 1?, 1850.
A PASSER-BY

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 15th June, 1850

'Improvements to Roads in 1851'

Report of Surveyor

The following and other improvements have been made, with a strict regard to economy, at the cost of the town:-

Pavement

The pavement on south side of Charles-street and of Cross-street, the crossing and pavement near Sir Charles Morgan's statue, and the pavements near 109, Stow-hill, have been re-laid, widened, and improved, and in Cross-street stone from the brack Rock quarries, Clifton, have been used for curbs, on account of their cheapness and durability.

Roads Repaired

Part of Dock-road, Banes Well-road, the Parish-road near Belle Vue, &c., have been repaired to a small extent. The Dock-road, never having been properly metalled or drained, is still in a bad state.

Footpaths

New footpaths have been formed and old ones repaired (with materials obtained as before for the cost of labour) in Dock-road, Stow hill, Clifion-place, Banes Well-road, Cross Keys-lane, Queen-street, &c., also in the fields between St. Woollos Church and Cardiff-road, where the footpath been improved throughout, and convenient wickets have been placed at each end to supersede troublesome stiles.

Projections Removed

Some steps which lately projected into the carriage-way on Stow hill have been removed further back, and the iron scrapers which endangered foot passengers near the bottom of the hill, have been set in the wall.

New Water Cart

An additional water cart with iron body has been purchased by order of the Board, and is found to answer well.

Sewer Traps

Several more of the new iron ejects have been put down with advantage in different parts of the town.

Names of Street and Numbers of Houses

For street lettering I have tried painted zinc plates, and shall probably use them extensively. The numbering of houses has been commenced, and I am now examining the state of the numbering generally throughout the town.

Shutes to Houses

In accordance with your directions, I am serving notices on parties to put up shutes to the buildings adjoining streets and roads. 

Tredegar Wharf Company's Property

The Tredegar Wharf Company are proceeding with improvements in the neighbourhood of Pillgwenlly, and Mr. Homfray. at my solicitation, has freely consented to make Lewis street and future streets on the company's property forty feet wide.

Llanarth Estate

Mr. Lvne, is improviog the Llanarth Estate generally, and especially Canal-parade and the roads near the Commercial Inn, his application to have certain roads on the estate made public highways has not been answered by the Board.

Pentonville Well

Mr. Justice has, for Sir Charles Morgan, made a great improvement at the Pentonville Well by liberally building a substantial wall, and putting up a commodious flight of steps, with a neat iron gate for the convenience of the public.

Scavenging

The contract for scavenging the town will expire on the 9th of this month, and it will be necessary to make some temporary arrangement for the performance of the work until the proposed new contract is entered into. 

Banes Well Pump

I have examined the state of the Banes Well Pump and Reservoir, having been directed to do so, and beg to report that the pump works well at present, and the supply of water is sufficient, if not abused. The pump and building over the well are certainly not ornamental.

I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your very obedient servant, Town Hall, Newport,
ALFRED WILLIAMS

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 8th August, 1851

'Trespassing at Brynhyrid'

James Brinsden, a little boy, was charged with trespassing and breaking over fences, on lands belonging to Colonel Lyne, of Brynhyfrid. Col. Lyne stated that he had no wish to press the charge, but had brought the boy before them as a public duty.

The facts of the case were simply these:- He had erected a larch fencing, to protect his land, nine feet high. Boys were in the habit of breaking over this fencing and causing a great deal of annoyance and injury. The day before yesterday 80 tons of hay had been consumed, and he believed it occurred entirely by boys having got in there at play. He did not mean to say that it was the boy who had done it, nor that he had any wicked intention on the contrary, he considered his father a very respectable man.

Policemen had been set to watch these fences, and no sooner had the officers gone, than the boys returned, and broke over the fences. His son had caught the defendant, and he considered it his duty to bring the matter before the Bench. Having caught this boy, he brought him before the Bench as an example. If he had declined to bring this boy before the Bench, it would be said that he was afraid of doing so because he was respectable. He wanted the boy to be cautioned, and hoped it would act as a warning to him and others. The father of the lad expressed sorrow for what the boy had done, and had given him a beating as soon as he heard of it.

The Bench administered a salutary caution, and ordered them to pay the expenses of the application. They hoped the boy would take warning himself, and warn his companions. Col. Lyne mentioned the danger and risk incurred by these boys getting over fences into other peoples' premises. 

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 7th August, 1869

What's In A Name?

Robert Nurse, of the Garth Company, at Rhiwderin, was summoned for using a cart without having the name of the owner painted thereon. P. C. Seys stated the case, and said he had frequently cautioned the driver.

Defendant said it was not his cart, nor was it used for him. It belonged to the Garth Sheet Iron Company. When he received the summons the name board was ready to be put on. Fined 5s.

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 14th August, 1869

'Trespassing in Pursuit of Game'

John Morgan was charged with trespassing in pursuit of game. He was represented by his father. Service of summons was proved.

Thomas Kirby stated that he was gamekeeper at Coldra, and on Monday last he saw defendant with a gun trespassing, and saw him shoot a rabbit. He had been on the ground on several previous occasions. Fined 20s including costs, or fourteen days. 

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 7th August, 1869

'Refusing Entry to Policeman'

James Bevan was charged with refusing to admit a policeman into his beer-house. At half-past one in the morning P.C. McEvoy said he heard men, apparently drunk, inside. He knocked seven or eight times at the door, and called outside was a policeman, but he was not admitted. One of the men in the house he heard say—

" Here's the police we had better get up stairs."

Defendant declared there was no one in the house but his son, and that he did not hear the policeman. Fined 10s. and costs, together £1 0s. 6d.

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 29th December, 1860

'The Steam Packet Bell in Newport'

To THE EDITOR of the CAMBRIAN

Cardiff, September 9th, 1828,
SIR— I wish to be informed, through the medium of your paper, if there be any truth in the report, that a Magistrate acting for the county of Monmouth has ordered a bill of indictment to be preferred against the Bell which is rung at Newport, giving notice to the public a few minutes previous to the sailing of the Steam-packet from that place to Bristol.

I am one of thousands that avail myself of that great, very great, accommodation, and a more proper and satisfactory notice to the public cannot possibly be given.

And am, Sir, your obedient servant, A. WATT.

— The Cambrian, 13th September, 1828

Stow Hill 'Sub-way'

Along Stow Hill there are a number of doorways some still there, some blocked up or bricked over; one currently has a sign that says 'Bin Store'. I've always wondered if they actually led into the houses or were just storage areas beneath the raised pavement.

During a council meeting in April 1877, a Mr Brewer, surgeon, was successful in applying for a 'sub-way' that ran from the road into his house.

After looking at old street directories trying to work out where this sub-way would have been, my guess is that it's the one on the left in the image below. The current numbering on Stow Hill goes odds and evens up the hill but they used to run sequentially up one side and then back down the other so when looking at 19th century street directories the numbers do correspond to what's there today.

From the 1886 street directory, these were the buildings in the area.

38 Alms Houses
St. John Baptist Church
42 Stapleton Thos. smith
43 Phillips Wm. carpenter
44 Void
entrance to Waters' buildings
45 Brewer Hy. Melville, J.P.
46 Brewer Messrs. surgery

Where the school is located there once stood a church and next to that were two houses, 42 and 43 where a smith and a carpenter resided. Next to those was a void where there is currently a building with a passage.

A sign on the building mentions that it was established in 1779 and rebuilt in 1886 so could well have been a void when the street directory was made. The passageway (once called Stow Passage) led to Water's Buildings (Water's Court (possible Walter's Court) used to be behind).

Then comes 45 and 46 which were both owned by the brewer family who were surgeons and held a surgery there. Both of these buildings look very similar and the type that would have been owned by someone with a profession like a surgeon.

Based on them possibly living there I'm thinking that the bricked up 'sub-way' is the one mentioned in the Merlin in 1877 and would have led into the house. I then wonder if the others on the road also led into the houses?

Throwing Snow-Balls

This dangerous practice, for which we have known justly-deserved instances of punishment by law, has been carried to a very great extent in our streets during this week, and in some cases has been attended by very serious effects.

We have heard of a gentleman residing in Llanarth-street, who, being assailed by wanton and blackguard fellows with snow-balls, now suffers severely from being struck with one — compressed almost to a ball of ice — directly on the right eye. Offenders should remember that there is a statute in full force, which punishes this offence severely. 

— Monmouthshire Merlin, 16th January, 1841