The New Inn, Newport was built and owned by Edward Humphreys in about 1791. He and his wife Elizabeth ran the pub initially.
The ‘Queens Head’ Inn opposite had recently burned down and this seemed to Edward to be an ideal opportunity for a new inn on the recently established toll road to Stafford. There had been two old cottages on the site, which Humphreys incorporated into the complex. You can see one of them on the east side at the back.
By 1830 Edward Humphreys, who was now calling himself a ‘yeoman’, owned a lot of land on that corner, and sold some to a group of Primitive Methodists, who built a chapel. (now 6 Stafford Road).
In 1835 pigsties were listed as part of the inn fixtures. This is confirmed in the 1841 census, when they had staying with them, six pig dealers; probably lodging there while they were buying and selling pigs at the local Swine Market. By 1896 there was stabling for 12 horses. These eventually became garages for cars along Audley Road, as the 20th century progressed.
In the 1910s and 20s the Flint family were the licensees at The New Inn, and they were keen boxers. The sons, Frank and Bert - aka ‘Toad’ - trained in the back garden.
While the site was being restored by Joules brewery this spring, Newport History Society were generously allowed on the site. We worked with the site workmen sorting through rubble, doing metal detecting and digging test pits. We found many interesting items - especially bottles, now on display in The Guildhall, Newport front window at present.
