St Mary’s Street, Newport. Or is it St Mary Street? Whichever side of the debate you stand, this historic cobbled street holds many hidden treasures, both past and present.
Why St Mary, when the parish church is St Nicholas? We know that in medieval times Newport had a guild, a religious college and a chapel – all of them dedicated to St Mary Magdalene. They were all abandoned and demolished at the time of Henry Vlll’s abolition of the monasteries in 16th century.
Many of its old timber-framed properties escaped the Great Fire of Newport in 1665. Starting at the Square, and walking on the pavement, in the opposite direction to the traffic on this one-way street, it’s not long before you realise just how varied the products and services on offer, from the wealth of independents. But before you dip into one of these local gems, a quick glance upwards, above your natural eye-line, reveals a small slice of the street’s past.
Much of the real history, lies hidden to the public. But enough can still be experienced when you know where to look.
Let’s start at 22-24. These properties are on the site of houses belonging to the late medieval college and guild of St Mary Magadelene (1432-1549). Elizabethan plasterwork survives internally from the rebuilding, which followed the dissolution of these religious establishments under Henry Vlll & Edward VI. No 24 is where William Underhill started his agricultural engineering business in the 1850s. His industrial chimney fell down in 1865 onto neighbouring properties. He moved into new premises in 1869, probably as a result of the chimney collapse. Further down, cross St Mary Street, and walk between Sluice Juice (No 17) and St Nicholas Church. Note the Big Gullet to the left, originally a courtyard with housing; its origins are medieval.
34, Gilbeys, which is 16th century in origin. It was a fishmonger’s in Victorian times with a bark-drying or smoking kiln at the rear. Timber framing can be seen in the side alley and inside the property. Continuing down the cobbled St Mary Street, we arrive at The Royal Victoria Hotel building, once The Union Inn, built in 1830. Local people bought shares in the inn (32 shares at £100 each). The name was changed to the Royal Victoria Hotel in 1832 after the visit of Princess Victoria. Coaches left daily for many centres and the hotel’s own horse-drawn bus met every train arriving at Newport Station.
For a fascinating insight into the heritage of Newport and its surrounding villages visit www.newporthistorysociety.org
