Folk of the Footbridge

Crossing the Bridge:   Newport Rugby and Rodney Parade 1. Rodney Parade Viscount Tredegar painted by George Frederick Harris (1910) Newport Museum and Art Gallery From the Marshes to the Salt Pool. In 1875, the Newport Athletic Club was created, and two years later they secured the use of land at Rodney Parade from Godrey Morgan 1st Vicount Tredegar , for their cricket, tennis, rugby and athletics teams. He called it Rodney Parade after his brother Charles Rodney Morgan   (2 December 1828 – 14 January 1854). Charles Rodney  Morgan was the first born son and was due to inherit the estate but died in  1854, in Marseilles. For more information click here -   Charles Rodney Morgan   For more information about Viscount Tredegar - Godfrey Morgan, click here for Steffan Ellis's blog post.  Tag Archives: Godfrey Morgan . Clarke's Garden 1854 Newport Rugby Club can trace its origins to Newport Victoria Cricket Club, which played on the marshes in...

  Artist Ric,   R.L. MacLeod is owner of 'aThousandWordsGallery' in the Kingsway Centre. Some of his work can be seen below.  The Transporter Bridge painted by Ric Ric states, I had someone bring me a drone form China a few years ago , as it's half the cost there. O ver the last 15 months of running my gallery, I've realised that people wanted to see more of Newport , so used the drone to take a few imaginative shots of the Newport icons. Still haven't gotten down the Transporter Bridge with it though, so ended up painting that instead during lockdown as part of my three-piece 'Surreal Silhouette Sunset Series', encompassing original artwork of Newport's most famous structures.  ' As for me' Ric comments, I was born in Newport & lived here my whole life. I've done a bit of travelling in my time though, which turned out to be handy when the opportunity arose to open a store in the Kingsway Centre. Although I'd planned for it to s...

  Our Bridge Before Lockdown Masts stretch like fingers into space Wires hold the structure in its place Crossing from Maindee to Newport Centre A point to pause, look, remember. The north, are memories of Iron Age tribes The south, more bridges close the divide. Time passes, the tide rises and falls, The sun in the sky a roving ball Shining on mud, water and litter, Bottles thoughtlessly thrown - glitter. Our Bridge is a symbol of future vision Of hope for a world with less division. Crowds of black and amber, dream United in their team’s esteem. Their cries like waves on distant shores Emotions displayed in wild roars. Babies in prams and children on scooters Cyclists warn with bells and hooters. Stick men and women old and grey Through moving crowds wend their way. Alone amongst chatter and clatter An old man pauses his thoughts scatter Remembrance of times long ago. From his eye a tear begins to flow But soon his memories are shared As people stopped, listened and cared.

The Development of Newport as a Port At the moment Newport Museum and Art Gallery has a photographic exhibition about the development of Newport Docks and it ends with photographs of the Newport Dock Disaster of 1909 when 39 men lost their lives. The Newport Ship Newport's riverside wharves and jetties have existed at this major trading port since at least the fifteenth century, as evidenced by the discovery of The Newport Ship trading vessel dating from 1465-6. See David Jordan's painting below. 'Approaching Newport', by David Jordan © Friends of Newport Ship  The Monmouthshire Canal The town's industrial significance was established in 1799 with the opening of the Monmouthshire Canal. Subsequent development made Newport docks the the outlet for all iron and coal production of the Monmouthshire Valleys of Rhymney, Ebbw, Sirhowy and Afon Llwyd.  The Monmouthshire Canal Company with its canal and tramroads was responsible for the growth of Newport, which became the t...