Newport & District History Society (a registered charity, Number 516162) is an active society run entirely by volunteers who are researching the heritage of Newport town and its surrounding villages.
This year is our 40th Anniversary and we recently celebrated this on Saturday 20th May 2023 with a display in the Guild Hall on Newport High Street. This was hugely successful with over 130 visitors as well as local dignitaries including the Mayor and one of the Deputy Lieutenants of Shropshire, Anthony Morris-Eyton. Professor Richard Hoyle, Chair of the Victoria County History Shropshire, was also there to promote the work being currently undertaken on Newport and launching a new book on ‘The Estates of Thomas Talbot and John Talbot of Longford. This included maps by William Hill and transcriptions by 2 of our members, Linda Fletcher and Nicky Talbot.
Our Anniversary Exhibition was visited by DL Anthony Morris-Eyton, Professor Richard Hoyle and Cllr Tim Nelson seen here with Linda Fletcher, Cathryn Ross-Talbot and Judith Everard (VCH Shropshire)
Fine weather helped bring a steady stream of visitors to enjoy the exhibition.
Celebrations at the Archives
As part of the activities, a quiz of Newport history was offered to visitors and, for those of you who took part, here are the answers. The winner will be announced in the near future. 40th Anniversary Quiz 2023
As part of our ‘participation in the ‘Pride in our High Street’ activities, we invited children of all ages to take part in our competition to colour the Guildhall. We had some brilliant perspectives on our home building and the home of the Town Council including a ‘Pride’ make-over. The NDHS stall was in prime position for the visitors and nearby food stalls.
Pride of Place
Here are some of our entries including the winner:
During the autumn, winter and spring months we invite speakers to talk on subjects of local history. We meet at Cosy Hall on Water Lane on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7.00pm (except summer time). Non-members are welcome!
Our Field Archaeology Group field-walk, metal detect and occasionally dig during Summer months and as a result have a large collection of finds for research and display.
The group is well respected for its work and is often asked to help by regional and national groups.
We have a large archive available for members’ research at the Heritage Resource Centre Deli 45 Coffee Shop (3 High Street by the Guildhall) where the books and leaflets we publish can be purchased. These booklets can also be ordered on-line; see ‘Our Publications’ page.
Some of our members volunteer to work on the archives in the Heritage Resource Centre, cataloguing and digitising documents.
During the summer months (June to August), we visit places of historical interest.
Our programme of talks can be found on our ‘Events Page. A leaflet with the programme of talks can always be found in Newport Library and the Heritage Centre.
As you know Newport is on a very significant historical route from London to Chester (A41) and NDHS are hoping to uncover the architecture of our old inn and beer houses. It was basically a coaching town and we want to put the coaching inns back on the map
Can you help us this autumn ? Here are some of the research topics that we need volunteers to help with . What do you think might suit you?
Alternatively, do you work in a current Newport pub, know someone that does or know someone who owns or rents one of the old inns? Do please get in touch with us. We need friendly links with local inns and licensees to move forward.
Wellington Road Junction 1930
Picken Papers This advertising stamp was found recently in the Picken Papers ( NHS01616) in one of his scrap books Advertising Stamp for Colliers in Virginia In 1873, Picken glued this advertisement into his scrap book and wrote : “Given by Mr Aston
Read moreOn Monday 8th May, the Coronation Bank Holiday, members of various Newport organisations met in Victoria Park to plant fruit trees as part of a commemorative orchard celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III. These trees are to represent the ecological
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A recent find by the Archeology Field Group in Wellington Road
Planting the NDHS tree in the King Charles III Commemorative Orchard in Victoria Park
The Mayor visits the new Archive Room
You are welcome to attend our regular Sunday morning field work, our monthly talks, or join our summer outings & events. You may be interested in helping with archiving, scanning photographs, research, or do your own project about the people, buildings and trades of Newport. Whatever it is, we will welcome you to our society.
Our archives, above the Deli 45 Tearooms at the Guild Hall, are manned on Mondays between 9 am and 12 noon.
We meet at the Cosy Hall, Water Lane, Newport, TF10 7LD on the third Tuesday of each month; there is usually a talk which starts at 7.30pm. We do not have Cosy Halls meetings during the Summer months, when we enjoy events such as historical walks. Details can be found on our Events Page.
There is also an informal get together at Deli 45 on the first Tuesday of each month between 7 and 9pm where anyone is welcome to join us for a coffee and chat
Henry I around 1100 AD
Newport itself has such a rich history dating back to the reign of Henry I but much of our archives relate to the surrounding area and villages through Anglo-Saxon and Roman times. School children or teachers wishing to explore periods of history with a more local focus will find plenty of scope for projects using material held by the Newport and District History Society. There are many varied activities that the History Society undertakes regularly that can support specific projects and our experience is that this can suit all our local residents either new or long established. New families may wish to know more about the town to which they have moved or the house they live in, including what existed on redeveloped sites previously. Established residents have lots of memories that can be nurtured by material we already hold, but you may also have information and memorabilia that will enhance our archives.
To do all this we need volunteers of all ages to support activities including simply becoming a member and coming to the regular meetings, to archiving, going on historical walks and donating money to ensure this priceless resource is maintained for generations to come. We look forward to meeting anyone who wishes to join us. The membership form is found at the top of this page and one of our team will be in touch to welcome you.
If you would like to support us through your normal shopping, please use the link to our easy fund raising site below: