Newtown, Isle of Wight: Difference between revisions
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}} |
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{{Use British English|date=June 2015}} |
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|official_name= Newtown |
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| country = England |
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| official_name = Newtown |
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| civil_parish = [[Calbourne, Newtown and Porchfield]] |
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| coordinates = {{coord|50.70912|-1.39243|display=inline,title}} |
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|population= |
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| population = |
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| unitary_england = [[Isle of Wight]] |
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| map_type = Isle of Wight |
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| lieutenancy_england = [[Isle of Wight]] |
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|region = South East England |
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| constituency_westminster = [[Isle of Wight West (UK Parliament constituency)|Isle of Wight West]] |
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| post_town = NEWPORT |
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|postcode_district= PO30 |
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| postcode_district = PO30 |
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| postcode_area = PO |
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| dial_code = 01983 |
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| os_grid_reference = SZ429901 |
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| static_image = [[Image:Town Hall, Newtown, Isle of Wight, England, 1967.jpg|200px]] |
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| static_image_name = Newtown, Isle of Wight, UK.jpg |
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| static_image_caption = |
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}} |
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Newtown is located on the large [[Newtown River|natural harbour]] on the |
Newtown is located {{convert|5|mi|km|0}} west of the town of [[Newport, Isle of Wight|Newport]] on the large [[Newtown River|natural harbour]] on the island's north-western coast.<ref>{{cite book |title=AA Book of British Villages |date=1980 |publisher=Drive Publications Limited |isbn=9780340254875 |page=295}}</ref> It is now mostly a [[national nature reserve (United Kingdom)|national nature reserve]] owned and managed by the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]]. |
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The [[Caul Bourne]] |
The [[Caul Bourne]] streams through [[Calbourne]], passes [[Newbridge, Isle of Wight|Newbridge]] and [[Shalfleet]] and empties into the [[Solent]] at Newtown. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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[[File:Newtown_Town_Hall,_IW,_UK.jpg|thumb|left|[[Newtown Old Town Hall|Newtown Town Hall]]]] |
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[[File:Newtown_marshes,_IW,_UK.jpg|thumb|left|View over the marshes, with Newtown church on the skyline]] |
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[[File:Newtown_Harbour,_IW,_UK.jpg|thumb|left|[[Newtown River|The harbour]]; looking north with the mainland in the far distance]] |
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The town was originally called Francheville (i.e. |
The town was originally called Francheville (i.e. 'Freetown'), and only later renamed Newtown. It was probably founded before the [[Norman Conquest]]. There is some indication that it was attacked by Danes in 1001. |
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The earliest charter |
The earliest known charter was granted by the Bishop-elect of Winchester, [[Aymer de Valence (bishop)|Aymer de Valence]]. He signed it at his ecclesiastical estate of [[Swainston Manor]] in 1256. The early hopes for its success are reflected in the names of its streets, such as Gold Street and Silver Street. However, it will have had competition from [[Yarmouth, Isle of Wight|Yarmouth]], [[Newport, Isle of Wight|Newport]] and [[Southampton]]. In 1284 it was somewhat reluctantly given to [[Edward I of England|Edward I]]. Apparently there were about 60 families living in Newtown at the start of the 14th century. |
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By the mid 14th century, |
By the mid 14th century, Newtown was starting to mature into a thriving commercial centre. In 1344, it was assessed at twice the value of Newport. Its harbour was busy and reputed to be the safest on the island. There was a prosperous saltworks and abundant oyster beds. There was an annual three-day festival on the "eve, the day and the morrow of the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen", who was honoured in the name of the local thirteenth-century chapel. Then, the [[Black death|great plague]] struck, and subsequently a French raid in 1377 destroyed much of the town, from which it never truly recovered. |
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The town’s [[Ceremonial maces in the United Kingdom|mace]] dating back to the reign of [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]] survives in the collection of [[Carisbrooke Castle Museum]].<ref name=Tait43>{{cite book |last1=Tait |first1=Rachel|last2=Tiley |first2=Kate |date=2023 |title=100 Treasures and Curiosities from the Collection of Carisbrooke Castle Museum |publisher=Medina Publishing |page=43 |isbn=9781911487975}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | By the middle of the 16th century it was a small settlement |
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| ⚫ | By the middle of the 16th century, it was a small settlement eclipsed by the more easily defended town of [[Newport, Isle of Wight|Newport]]. A survey in 1559 noted that Newtown no longer had a market, and did not have a single good house still standing. Its harbour slowly became clogged with silt and inaccessible to larger vessels. |
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| ⚫ | [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]] breathed some life into the town |
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| ⚫ | In 1584 [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]] breathed some life into the town by awarding it two parliamentary seats. [[Newtown Old Town Hall|Newtown Town Hall]] was built in the 17th century. However, these seats ultimately made [[Newtown (UK Parliament constituency)|Newtown borough]] one of the most notorious of the [[rotten borough]]s, prevalent in the UK before the 19th century reforms. By the time of the [[Reform Act 1832|1832 Reform Act]] that abolished the seats, a survey found that Newtown had just fourteen houses and twenty-three voters, whilst massively larger municipal areas with many more voters had less representation. |
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[[Newtown Old Town Hall|The town hall]] was restored in 1813, and again in the 1930s. It is now open to the public. |
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The |
The town hall was restored in 1813, and again in the 1930s. It is now open to the public. |
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The Grade II listed,<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 November 2023 |title=Church of the Holy Spirit - A Grade II Listed Building in Calbourne, Isle of Wight |url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101292702-church-of-the-holy-spirit-calbourne-newtown-and-porchfield |access-date=16 November 2023 |website=British Listed Buildings}}</ref> [[Holy Spirit Church, Newtown|Church of The Holy Spirit]] was built in 1837. |
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Newtown has stayed small, but this has led to the preservation of the original layout of the village, to the interests of historians. There are also two square ponds by the boathouse which were dug as [[saltern]]s, as part of a salt industry that used to exist in Newtown. |
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The Newtown Arms Inn was closed in 1916. It was in an unusually shaped building referred to locally as "Noah's Ark." |
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Newtown remained small, but this has preserved its original layout, which is of historical interest. There are two square ponds by the boathouse, which were dug as [[saltern]]s as part of the former local salt industry. The harbour and salterns have since become a habitat for fish native to the Isle of Wight and its surrounding waters, with large populations of [[Flathead grey mullet]] living in both the harbour and the salterns. Although there are a number of private residences still in use and the harbour is still accessible and used by small to medium vessels, Much of the land Newtown is situated on is now under the ownership of the [[National Trust]], with the hamlet being at the centre of a [[nature reserve]] built around the old harbour. Newtown is popular with tourists and birdwatchers, as numerous uncommon native species use the salt marshes to nest. |
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==Legend== |
==Legend== |
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There are stories of a pied piper |
There are stories of a pied piper, hired for 50 pounds to save Newtown from an excess of rats, which are similar to the story of the [[Pied Piper of Hamelin]], Germany. He is said to have played his pipe and led the rats into the [[Solent]], where they drowned. The townspeople refused to pay the agreed price, and gave the piper 20 pounds, so he then led the children away. The town lost an entire generation, so had no young people to defend it when the French attacked in 1377.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Pied Piper of Newtown, Isle of Wight |url=https://www.information-britain.co.uk/loredetail.php?id=30 |website=Information Britain |publisher=Simon Waite}}</ref> |
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==Transport== |
==Transport== |
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[[ |
[[Southern Vectis]] operates an infrequent bus route 35, [[Newbridge, Isle of Wight|Newbridge]] to [[Newport, Isle of Wight|Newport]], via Newtown, [[Porchfield]] and [[Marks Corner]].<ref name="Wightbus route 35">{{cite web | year = 2013 | url = http://www.islandbuses.info/pdfs/r35.pdf | title = Route 35 | publisher = Southern Vectis | access-date = 2013-06-12 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130510015542/http://islandbuses.info/pdfs/r35.pdf | archive-date = 10 May 2013 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{commons |
{{commons category}} |
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* [ |
* [https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/newtown-old-town-hall National Trust site for the Town Hall] |
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* [http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-oldtownhallnewtown/ National Trust site for the Town Hall] |
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{{Isle of Wight box}} |
{{Isle of Wight box}} |
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{{Settlements on the Isle of Wight}} |
{{Settlements on the Isle of Wight}} |
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{{authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Newtown, Isle Of Wight}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Newtown, Isle Of Wight}} |
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[[Category:Villages on the Isle of Wight]] |
[[Category:Villages on the Isle of Wight]] |
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[[Category:Ports and harbours of the Isle of Wight]] |
[[Category:Ports and harbours of the Isle of Wight]] |
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[[Category:National Trust properties on the Isle of Wight]] |
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Latest revision as of 17:38, 20 October 2024
Newtown is a small village in the civil parish of Calbourne, Newtown and Porchfield, on the Isle of Wight, England. In medieval times it was a thriving borough.
Newtown is located 5 miles (8 km) west of the town of Newport on the large natural harbour on the island's north-western coast.[1] It is now mostly a national nature reserve owned and managed by the National Trust.
The Caul Bourne streams through Calbourne, passes Newbridge and Shalfleet and empties into the Solent at Newtown.
History
[edit]
The town was originally called Francheville (i.e. 'Freetown'), and only later renamed Newtown. It was probably founded before the Norman Conquest. There is some indication that it was attacked by Danes in 1001.
The earliest known charter was granted by the Bishop-elect of Winchester, Aymer de Valence. He signed it at his ecclesiastical estate of Swainston Manor in 1256. The early hopes for its success are reflected in the names of its streets, such as Gold Street and Silver Street. However, it will have had competition from Yarmouth, Newport and Southampton. In 1284 it was somewhat reluctantly given to Edward I. Apparently there were about 60 families living in Newtown at the start of the 14th century.
By the mid 14th century, Newtown was starting to mature into a thriving commercial centre. In 1344, it was assessed at twice the value of Newport. Its harbour was busy and reputed to be the safest on the island. There was a prosperous saltworks and abundant oyster beds. There was an annual three-day festival on the "eve, the day and the morrow of the Feast of St. Mary Magdalen", who was honoured in the name of the local thirteenth-century chapel. Then, the great plague struck, and subsequently a French raid in 1377 destroyed much of the town, from which it never truly recovered.
The town’s mace dating back to the reign of Henry VII survives in the collection of Carisbrooke Castle Museum.[2]
By the middle of the 16th century, it was a small settlement eclipsed by the more easily defended town of Newport. A survey in 1559 noted that Newtown no longer had a market, and did not have a single good house still standing. Its harbour slowly became clogged with silt and inaccessible to larger vessels.
In 1584 Elizabeth I breathed some life into the town by awarding it two parliamentary seats. Newtown Town Hall was built in the 17th century. However, these seats ultimately made Newtown borough one of the most notorious of the rotten boroughs, prevalent in the UK before the 19th century reforms. By the time of the 1832 Reform Act that abolished the seats, a survey found that Newtown had just fourteen houses and twenty-three voters, whilst massively larger municipal areas with many more voters had less representation.
The town hall was restored in 1813, and again in the 1930s. It is now open to the public.
The Grade II listed,[3] Church of The Holy Spirit was built in 1837.
The Newtown Arms Inn was closed in 1916. It was in an unusually shaped building referred to locally as "Noah's Ark."
Newtown remained small, but this has preserved its original layout, which is of historical interest. There are two square ponds by the boathouse, which were dug as salterns as part of the former local salt industry. The harbour and salterns have since become a habitat for fish native to the Isle of Wight and its surrounding waters, with large populations of Flathead grey mullet living in both the harbour and the salterns. Although there are a number of private residences still in use and the harbour is still accessible and used by small to medium vessels, Much of the land Newtown is situated on is now under the ownership of the National Trust, with the hamlet being at the centre of a nature reserve built around the old harbour. Newtown is popular with tourists and birdwatchers, as numerous uncommon native species use the salt marshes to nest.
Legend
[edit]There are stories of a pied piper, hired for 50 pounds to save Newtown from an excess of rats, which are similar to the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, Germany. He is said to have played his pipe and led the rats into the Solent, where they drowned. The townspeople refused to pay the agreed price, and gave the piper 20 pounds, so he then led the children away. The town lost an entire generation, so had no young people to defend it when the French attacked in 1377.[4]
Transport
[edit]Southern Vectis operates an infrequent bus route 35, Newbridge to Newport, via Newtown, Porchfield and Marks Corner.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ AA Book of British Villages. Drive Publications Limited. 1980. p. 295. ISBN 9780340254875.
- ^ Tait, Rachel; Tiley, Kate (2023). 100 Treasures and Curiosities from the Collection of Carisbrooke Castle Museum. Medina Publishing. p. 43. ISBN 9781911487975.
- ^ "Church of the Holy Spirit - A Grade II Listed Building in Calbourne, Isle of Wight". British Listed Buildings. 16 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ "The Pied Piper of Newtown, Isle of Wight". Information Britain. Simon Waite.
- ^ "Route 35" (PDF). Southern Vectis. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
External links
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