NEWPORT
Newport, the capital town of the Island, lies
at the head of the Medina estuary, with a quay to
which the tidal water reaches. The River Medina
by the middle of the 16th century had washed down
sufficient alluvial deposit to form two marshy tracts
east and west of the quay. The former was suffered
to remain as a place for 'old botes and crayers to lye
in for the use of the toune,' but the latter was considered of sufficient importance, being opposite the
warehouses in Sea Street, to be claimed and annexed
to the town, by the 17th century gaining the name
of Little London.
The area of the civil parish and borough is
499 acres of land, of which about 46 acres are
arable land and 151 are permanent grass. (fn. 1) There
are also 7 acres of foreshore, 5 of land covered by
water and 2 by tidal water.
The boundaries of the municipal borough formerly
extended north down the river to a shoal called the
Brambles, (fn. 2) and about two miles out to sea, and comprised all land on the banks of the Medina where
the tide had ever flowed, thus including a small part
of East and West Cowes. (fn. 3) The northern part of
the borough which had been excluded from the
parliamentary borough in 1868 (fn. 4) was in 1876 also
excluded from the municipal borough, (fn. 5) and from
that date the municipal and parliamentary boundaries
have been identical, and include parts of the parishes
of Carisbrooke, St. Nicholas and Whippingham. (fn. 6)
Newport is now the main centre and station of
the Isle of Wight Central railway, (fn. 7) which has its
sheds and workshops here; and the town supplies a
large part of the Island with necessaries, and has
some large provision shops and wholesale houses,
besides the extensive brewery of Mew, Langton &
Co. The town lies low, surrounded by high ground,
and consists of six main streets—High Street, South
Street (formerly called Cosham Street), Pyle Street,
Crocker Street, Lugley Street and Sea Street, running
east and west, crossed by three others— Quay Street,
Holyrood Street, St. James's Street—running north
and south. (fn. 8)
The Tudor town evidently comprised three
squares or open spaces for assembly and trade, the
principal of which, St. Thomas's, was the Corn
Market place. In the centre stood the church with,
to the north of it, the fish and flesh shambles, (fn. 9) or
shops, forming an island between it and High Street,
while to the south, adjoining Pyle Street, was a row
of standings or retail shops. At the west side,
opposite the church, was the market house, (fn. 10) used as
such up to the 19th century, when it was turned
into an inn called the 'Newport Arms.' (fn. 11) Here the
temporary 'pavillion' was erected for the pie-powder
court held during fair time, when the 'glove' was
set up. (fn. 12) At the north-east angle stood the Cheese
Cross, (fn. 13) forming a connecting link with the square or
space at the junction of Quay, High and Holyrood
Streets, in the middle of which, facing east and west,
was the town hall with the audit house, and
probably the Knighten Court House, in close proximity.
The third open space or square was called after
St. James, and served the same purpose that it does
to-day, (fn. 14) that of a beast market, and it is probable
that here stood the ring for the bull-baiting. It was
certainly used as the place for public punishment, a
poor woman in the reign of Elizabeth being burnt
here as a witch.
The town hall stands at the intersection of High
Street and Quay Street, and apparently occupies
nearly its original position. (fn. 15) It was erected in 1816
from designs by Nash, and a clock tower was added
in 1887. It contains a county court room, a council
chamber and various offices for the transaction of
municipal business. There is a corn exchange in
St. James Square, built in 1891, and, at the northeast angle of the square, a building erected in 1810
as the Isle of Wight Institution, and now occupied
by the County Club. The Literary Society has
premises in Quay Street, opposite the town hall, containing a good reading room and local museum.
The Seely Library adjoins the technical institute
in Upper St. James Street. In St. James Square
is the Island memorial to Queen Victoria,
erected in 1901, and at the junction of Castle
and Carisbrooke roads a cross erected in memory
of Sir John Simcon, bart. There is a fine drill
hall at the upper end of the town, the Medina
Hall in High Street used for entertainments and St.
Thomas's Mission Hall in South Street. At Broadlands on the road to Staplers was a lace factory
established in the middle of the 19th century by
Mr. Nunn. It is now used as a training school
for female servants.
There are numerous old houses in the town, many
of which have been refaced. Among the most
interesting are Hazards (17th–18th century), the
Red House (18th century) and the Castle Inn (17th
century) (fn. 16) in the High Street; God's Providence
House (1701), the Green Dragon (18th century),
the Chantry House (18th century) in Pyle Street;
No. 52 Sea Street (1697), the Grammar School (fn. 17)
(1614) in Lower St. James Street, a house on the north
side of Crocker Street, with a date tablet,
while another on the south side, nearer
Holyrood Street, is an example of a small
wattle and daub house of the 16th century. On the quay is a quaint old inn
called the 'Fountain.'
Date tablet on house in north side of Crocker Street
The town is supplied with water from Carisbrooke
and is lighted by gas and electric light from the
works by the station. There were one or two early
attempts to supply Newport with water. In 1618 a
lease for 300 years was granted Philip Fleming
allowing him to break up any of the streets within
the borough for the purpose of laying trunks 'for
the convenient carrying and conveying of wholesome
spring water into this town and so into every man's
house that shall compound with the said Philip for
the same.' (fn. 18) Mr. Fleming was to pay sixpence yearly
to the Warden of the common box, and the lease
was to be void unless the water was brought into the
town within three years. This apparently he failed
to accomplish, for less than five years later licence
was granted by the mayor to Mr. Andrew James to
do the like. The water was to be conducted to a
cistern house and receptacles placed in convenient
positions in the streets. (fn. 19) In 1709, the former projects having apparently failed, another attempt was
made to supply the town with water, and a lease of a
small part of the Beast Market in St. James Square
on the west side opposite the present Lamb Inn
was granted to a Mr. William Arnold for the term
of 900 years to build 'a cistern (fn. 20) to convey water
into from some part of the river running by the
north-west part of the town and from thence to be
conveyed by pipes into the principal streets and lanes
of the borough to the end that the inhabitants might
at easy rates be furnished with river water in their
houses upon all occasions and might be supplied with
a present remedy in case of any accidental calamitous
fire.' (fn. 21) This scheme, too, apparently proved
abortive, (fn. 22) and another century elapsed before the
subject was again brought forward.
The burial-ground to the south of the town, with
its 16th–17th-century entrance, was the outcome of
the plague visitation of 1582–3. It was consecrated
on 23 October 1583, and was the first step towards
throwing off the supremacy of Carisbrooke. Doubtless the southern part of the quay at the bottom of
Quay Street occupies the site of the original landingplace for the inhabitants, but the first mention of its
regular maintenance occurs in 1413 when an annual
due was ordered to be levied 'for the support of the
key,' (fn. 23) from which dues the present Corporation
receives a considerable income.
Though the 1611 plan shows only one gate,
that called the Town Gate at the north end of
St. James Street, it is more than probable that
other gates existed previous to the French descent
in 1377. (fn. 24)
The old 'clink' at the bottom of Holyrood Street
near the river was only lately pulled down to make
room for the brewery malting house.
16th-century House, Crocker Street, Newport
Hazards House, Newport
There are many mills (fn. 25) within the borough
boundary, the oldest being West Mill and Ford Mill,
both mentioned in the charter of Isabel de Fortibus. (fn. 26)
The other mills are Home Mill, Westminster Mill,
Towngate Mill, St. Cross Mill and Pan Mill.
Newport has numbered among its worthies many
men of note. The three Elizabethan townsmen, Sir
Thomas Fleming, Lord Chief Justice, 1607, Dr.
Edes, Dean of Worcester (1597), Dr. James,
physician in ordinary to the Queen, are good
examples; while among its Parliamentary representatives the borough can claim Lucius, second Viscount
Falkland (1640), the first Duke of Wellington
(1807–9) and Henry John Temple, third Viscount
Palmerston (1807). John Hamilton Reynolds, the
friend of Keats, died at Node Hill in 1852. Newport,
too, was the birthplace of Thomas James, first keeper
of the Bodleian (1573), John Dennett the inventor and
antiquary (1790), and it gave the title to Mountjoy
Blount, created Earl of Newport by Charles I. (fn. 27)
No. 77 High Street, Newport
BOROUGH
Newport takes its historical origin
from the date of the charter granted
to it by Richard de Redvers, fourth
Earl of Devon (1180–4), though it may have had
an earlier foundation without a special charter or
privileges. (fn. 28) By this charter Richard de Redvers
granted and confirmed to the burgesses freedom from
tolls and customs at fairs and markets, from suits at
shire and hundred, and common pasture in Parkhurst.
All pleas belonging to the earl arising within the
borough were to be pleaded there and none should
be amerced save by the burgesses, nor for more than
30d. The burgesses were also to choose their
own reeve. For this grant each burgess was to
pay 12d. annually for his messuage. (fn. 29)
Isabel de Fortibus confirmed the existing
privileges of the burgesses and allowed them
to elect their bailiff as well as their reeve.
Furthermore she granted them one mill and a
moiety of another, and all amercements arising
from pleas pleaded in the borough, and toll
and custom in the borough except in the
thirteen and a half places at Newport, afterwards known as Castle Hold, which the
countess had already granted to the chapel of
St. Nicholas. Instead of paying 1s. for each
tenement the burgesses were now to pay a
lump sum of 18 marks, 2s. 2d., to the lady
and 1 mark to the hospital of St. Augustine
for their burgages, (fn. 30) and for the mills, tolls and
amercements 18 marks to the lady and 2 marks
in frankalmoign to the monks of Carisbrooke. (fn. 31)
A clause is inserted in this charter saving the
liberties granted by the countess to the Abbot
of Quarr and to the Priors of Christchurch
and Appuldurcombe.
The burgages of Newport, like those of
Christchurch (q.v.), were known as 'places'
from the 13th to the 16th centuries. Thus
they are called 'messuages' in the charter of
Richard de Redvers, (fn. 32) 'tenements' in 1262 (fn. 33)
and 'places' (fn. 34) in Countess Isabel's charter.
In later times the value of these holdings
varied considerably. Thus in an extent of the
Island taken in 1297–8 the tenants of Newport 'places' paid sums varying from 15d. to
5s., (fn. 35) while in 1357–8 the bailiff and burgesses
leased a 'place' 7ft. in length and 10 ft. in breadth
for a rent of 2d. (fn. 36)
The charter of Isabel de Fortibus was confirmed by
Edward III in 1352, (fn. 37) by Richard II twice in 1393, (fn. 38)
by Henry IV in 1401, (fn. 39) by Henry V in 1414, (fn. 40) by
Henry VI in 1439, (fn. 41) by Edward IV in 1464, (fn. 42) and
by Henry VII in 1490. (fn. 43) Henry VII further granted
the burgesses the lands and goods of outlaws, felons
and fugitives and petty custom in all ports and creeks
of the Island. (fn. 44) This charter was confirmed by
Henry VIII in 1531, (fn. 45) by Edward VI in 1547, (fn. 46)
and by Elizabeth in 1559. (fn. 47) Edward VI in 1549
confirmed the grant of tolls and customs and petty
customs due under the grants of Isabel de Fortibus
and Henry VII. (fn. 48)
In 1490 in the charter of Henry VII the style of
the borough was for the first time changed from 'the
burgesses of the borough' to 'the bailiff, (fn. 49) burgesses
and inhabitants of the town,' and this later form was
observed until 1608. In that year James I granted
an incorporation charter by which the bailiff and
burgesses were to be a body corporate under the name
of 'the mayor and burgesses of the borough of
Newport, and were to have a common seal.' (fn. 50) One
of the burgesses was to be yearly elected mayor and
twenty-four others were to be capital burgesses, and
the mayor and capital burgesses, or the majority of
them, were empowered to make by-laws. The other
officers were a recorder, (fn. 51) a common or town clerk (fn. 52)
and two serjeants-at-mace. A court of record, with
jurisdiction over all causes arising in the borough, was
to be held weekly on Fridays before the mayor and
recorder and two capital burgesses. The mayor,
recorder and predecessor of each mayor were to be
justices of the peace and there was to be a double
seal for recognizances of debt. The mayor was to be
clerk of the market, and there was to be a gaol in a
convenient place in the borough. Further, the
corporation was empowered to acquire land to the
annual value of £30. (fn. 53)
In December 1661 Charles II granted the burgesses
their final charter, (fn. 54) under which the town was
governed (fn. 55) until 1835. By this charter the limits
of the borough were extended to include the Castle
Hold. (fn. 56) Further, instead of the mayor and twentythree burgesses, the charter ordained that there should
be a mayor and eleven aldermen, who with the
recorder should form the common council of the
borough, and twelve capital burgesses. The mayor
was still to be elected yearly, while the aldermen,
capital burgesses, recorder and town clerk were to hold
office for life. In addition to the Friday court of
record, another might be held on Tuesdays when
occasion required. The number of justices of the
peace was increased, the mayor, recorder, deputyrecorder, the last predecessor of each mayor and two
other senior aldermen from thenceforth holding the
office. The annual value of the land which the
corporation might acquire was increased to £50, and
the mayor, aldermen and chief burgesses were exempted
from being jurors or suitors at any court outside the
borough. Further, the inhabitants of Castle Hold
were secured against the imposition of any military
duties in the borough.
In 1683 the mayor, aldermen and burgesses of
Newport surrendered to the king all their charters
and possessions, (fn. 57) in accordance with the invitation of
Charles II to all boroughs to surrender their charters
as a sign of loyalty to the king, and a new charter
was granted in March of the following year. (fn. 58) The
Castle Hold was again excluded from the borough
boundaries, the number of aldermen was reduced to
nine and the capital burgesses to six. The mayor
was vested with authority to nominate attorneys of
the court of record, not exceeding four in number.
All justices of the peace of the quorum of Hampshire
who were resident in the Isle of Wight were to be
justices of the peace in Newport. Charles II, in
accordance with his policy of acquiring complete
power over the chartered boroughs, inserted in this
charter a clause reserving to the Crown the right to
remove any mayor or other member of the corporation.
On 17 October 1688 a proclamation was issued by
James II annulling all surrenders made to Charles II,
and restoring corporations to their ancient charters. (fn. 59)
By this proclamation the corporation of Newport
was re-established under the charter of 1661. In
1835 the town was divided into two wards, with
six aldermen and eighteen councillors, and it was to
have a commission of the peace. (fn. 60) The corporation
has from that time remained unaltered.
The election of the early borough officers, the
bailiffs, apparently took place in the church, and was
a very solemn and ceremonious affair, (fn. 61) beginning
with an assembly of bailiffs and burgesses in the town
hall 'the Thursday before the Sunday preceding the
feast of St. Michael the Archangel,' followed by a
prayer in the church for God's guidance, the rendering up of the maces by the bailiffs, with an account
of their stewardship and an endurance of criticism on
the same. The bailiffs then resumed their office till
Michaelmas, when they attended a dinner given by
the junior bailiff at his house, where the whole
company adjourned ' and there maketh merrie.' After
dinner they all went to church, leaving the bailiffs
behind, where, 'dividing themselves into two companies after the old usage,' those who had already
served as bailiffs went into the chancel, the rest
remaining in the nave. The elders then consulted
and chose two candidates 'to supplie ye roome of ye
Elder Baylive,' whose names written on a scroll of
paper they sent down to the burgesses in the nave
with instructions to prick. This settled, they chose
the younger bailiff 'by voyces onlye,' and finally
visited the new bailiffs' houses for a 'shortte drincking.' Before, however, they were admitted to office
they had to attend at the castle and take the oath
before the governor.
God's Providence House, Newport
Under the charter of 1608 the election of the
mayor took place on the identical day that had been
customary for the election of the bailiffs, and he, as
they before him, had to take oath before the Captain
of the Island or his seneschal in the chapel of the
castle. (fn. 62) However, in 1661 he was ordered, in the
absence of the captain and his seneschal, to take oath
in the town hall before the then mayor and the other
justices of the peace. (fn. 63)
Until 1621 the election took
place by 'pricking,' (fn. 64) but in that
year it was decreed (fn. 65) that it should
be by ballot. (fn. 66)
In 1835 the existing method
was as follows: the junior chief
burgess was first called upon to sign
his name under that of the alderman he wished to be mayor,
then the rest of the electors were
called upon by juniority to do the
same, the mayor signing last. (fn. 67)
In addition to the functions already mentioned the mayor was
also admiral of the borough, judge
of the court of pie powder, returning officer in the election of
members for Parliament, commissioner under the Act for the
Court of Requests in the Isle of
Wight, and king's escheator within
the borough. (fn. 68) He also had the
right to fix the assize of bread and
ale and was entitled to 2 bushels
of coal from every ship which discharged in Cowes Harbour, as
well as fish to the value of 1s. 4d.
from all parcels of fish brought to
the town. (fn. 69)
The recorder and town clerk
were, under the charter of 1608,
to hold office during the pleasure
of the mayor and capital burgesses
by whom they were to be elected. (fn. 70)
In 1661 they were to be appointed
for life by the Crown. (fn. 71) A deputyrecorder was also to be nominated
by the recorder. (fn. 72) The two
serjeants-at-mace were elected by
the mayor and capital burgesses. (fn. 73)
Other officers of the corporation were: a town
warden, (fn. 74) water bailiffs, (fn. 75) a harbour master, (fn. 76) con
stables, (fn. 77) a beadle, (fn. 78) a receiver of assize returns, (fn. 79) coal
meters, (fn. 80) corn measurers, (fn. 81) a measurer and gauger, (fn. 82)
gashers of hides, sealers of leather, (fn. 83) and a gaoler.
There were also three classes of freemen or burgesses;
first, those who, having a freehold of a whole place or
half a place within the borough, built upon, and also
a wife and household, had become free by payment of
6s. 8d. to the use of the common box; secondly,
those who had become free by payment of a sum of
money (varying from 13s. 4d. to £20) named by certain corporate functionaries (fn. 84) ; thirdly, the honorary
freemen or burgesses. All burgesses of the first two
classes had disappeared before 1835, and there were
only four or five of the third class. (fn. 85)
Walter de Wyte and Peter de Coskevill attended
the Parliament of 1295 as members for the boroughs
of Newport and Yarmouth, (fn. 86) but no member for
Newport was returned from that time until 1584,
when two members were elected, (fn. 87) this privilege
having been obtained for the burgesses by Sir George
Carey. From 1584 until 1867 Newport regularly
returned two members. In that year the number
was reduced to one, (fn. 88) and in 1885 by the Redistribution of Seats Act the representation of Newport
was merged in that of the Island. (fn. 89) Until the passing
of the Reform Act in 1832 the elective franchise was
exercised only by members of the corporation. (fn. 90)
Of the courts formerly held within the borough of
Newport the most ancient was the Knighten Court
or Curia Militum. (fn. 91) It is supposed to have been
instituted by William Fitz Osbern and its suitors were
those who held knights' fees or part of knights' fees of
the honour of the castle of Carisbrooke. (fn. 92) It corresponded to the sheriff's court and was confirmed to
Isabel de Fortibus at the end of the 13th century. (fn. 93)
The Priors of Christchurch and Appuldurcombe, the
Abbot of Quarr and the Abbess of Lacock received
the amercements of their men in the knights' court, (fn. 94)
the abbess having obtained the privilege by grant of
Isabel de Fortibus. (fn. 95)
In 1626 the gentlemen of the Island addressed a
report to Lord Conway on the constitution of the
Knighten Court, suggesting alterations. It was held
by the captain's steward in the town hall of Newport
on Monday every three weeks, and had jurisdiction
throughout the whole Island, with the exception of
the borough of Newport. It held pleas of all actions
of debt and trespass under the value of 40s., and all
actions were entered and pleaded by certain attorneys
allowed in that court. The petitioners suggested
that as the judges were few in number and often did
not attend it would be well to empower the election
of a certain number of judges, in order that justice
might not be delayed, and also to increase the value
of actions to be tried in the court. The AttorneyGeneral was therefore ordered to draw up a grant
enlarging the jurisdiction of this court to all cases,
civil or criminal, under the value of £20, provided
the same did not extend to the life, member or freehold of any of the inhabitants. (fn. 96) These reforms
were, however, never carried into effect, and the
jurisdiction of the court remained unaltered until
1806, when it was partially superseded by a Court of
Requests for the Isle of Wight for the recovery of
debts under £5, the commissioners of which were to
be the several members of the corporation of Newport
and the justices of the peace for the Island. (fn. 97) The
Knighten Court and Court of Requests seem to have
existed side by side in 1835, (fn. 98) but in 1847 the
Court of Requests was superseded by the county
court. (fn. 99) The Isle of Wight became a separate administrative county in 1890, (fn. 100) and the county court for
the Island is held every month, alternately at Newport and Ryde.
The court leet of the borough was for convenience
summoned to meet on the days of two of the quarter
sessions. The corporation were lords of the leet,
which did not include Castle Hold within its jurisdiction. As late as 1670 the court-leet jury were in
the habit of formally presenting the different ordinances and customs of the borough. (fn. 101)
The mayor was judge and the town clerk registrar
of the court of pie powder, which was proclaimed
regularly once a year on the Saturday succeeding
Michaelmas sessions. The corporation in 1832 published a notice that a court of pie powder would be
held every market day. The petty constables were
sworn in at this court, but the origin of this custom
is not known. (fn. 102)
The corporation books contain entries of the
holding of courts of Admiralty, presided over by the
mayor as admiral of the borough, but in 1835 these
courts had long been discontinued. (fn. 103) Newport
became subject to the Admiralty jurisdiction of the
Portsmouth Court in 1869. (fn. 104)
In 1835 petty sessions were held every Saturday
for the borough, the county petty sessions being held
at the same time. (fn. 105) The borough petty sessions
have now for many years been held on Mondays in
the town hall, the county petty sessions on Saturdays
at Newport and on Tuesdays at Ryde. The magistrates at the quarter sessions in 1835 were the
mayor, late mayor, recorder, deputy recorder and two
senior aldermen, and the town clerk was clerk of
the quarter sessions. (fn. 106)
No early grant of a market or fair to the borough
of Newport has been found. Adams in his History
of the Isle of Wight states that the privilege of holding
a market was granted to the town about 1222, (fn. 107)
while the Commissioners appointed to inquire into
market rights in 1888 reported that the market had
been granted to the town in 1184 by Richard de
Redvers. (fn. 108) No mention of any market or fair is
made in any charter until 1684, when in the cancelled charter of Charles II the burgesses obtained
the right to hold a market every second Wednesday
in each month with a toll of 1d. for each head of
cattle and 3d. for every score of sheep sold. (fn. 109) A
Saturday market and a fair lasting three days at Whitsuntide existed at Newport before 1280, when they
were claimed by Isabel de Fortibus and allowed to
her by the justices itinerant, (fn. 110) yet no tolls from the
market or fair are entered in contemporary ministers'
accounts for Newport. At the end of the 13th
century part of the tolls of the market of Newport,
namely, the tolls on all corn bought or sold there,
were held by freeholders of the manor of Bowcombe
for the service of carrying writs at the will of the
lord or his bailiff throughout the whole Island. (fn. 111)
The tolls of the Whitsuntide fair belonged in 1835
to the corporation and amounted to £8 or £10 a
year. (fn. 112) This fair was abolished in 1871. (fn. 113) Until
the end of the 19th century the market was held on
Saturdays and alternate Wednesdays, the Saturday
market being the principal one. The Wednesday
market is now held on Tuesdays. Hiring fairs
were formerly held on the three Saturdays nearest
Michaelmas and were called 'Bargain Saturdays.'
The harbour dues were in 1835 received by the
harbour master. The dues were levied on all unregistered vessels anchoring in Cowes Harbour or up
the river. The rates in 1835 were 1s. 4d. for British
vessels under 50 tons, 2s. 6d. for vessels above 50
and under 100 tons, and 5s. for vessels over 100 tons.
The dues on foreign vessels were double in each
case. These dues had not been levied for a long
time, and on their renewal about 1830 great discontent arose in various quarters, causing the corporation some expensive litigation. (fn. 114)
The corporation parted with nearly all their landed
property early in the 19th century to defray the
expense of building a town hall and market-place. (fn. 115)
Their property now includes wharfage and harbour
dues, half of the latter being retained by the corporation since about 1835, the rest being taken by the
harbour master. (fn. 116)
The corporation has two fine maces (fn. 117) of silver
gilt, the one given by Lord Cutts in 1696, the
other the gift of Leonard Troughear Holmes in
1766. (fn. 118) There are two good seals belonging to
the corporation. The older 15th-century one is of
bronze, bearing in the centre a ship with a single
mast and sail; round the edge the legend in black
letter, 'SIGILLUM COMUNE VILLE DE NEUPORT IN
INSULA DE WIGHT.' It measures 2 in. in diameter.
The other is of silver, 1 in. across, and displays in
the centre a three-masted ship of the 16th century
with the legend 'SIGILLVM COMVNE VILLAGE DE NEWPORT
IN INSVLA VECTIS.' This is known as the Mayor's Seal.
15th-century Seal of the Borough of Newport
Few details are known of the early life of the
town, but in the spring of 1349 the Black Death,
which had broken out the previous August at Weymouth, visited the Isle of Wight and wrought
havoc amongst the Newport inhabitants. This was
followed in August 1377 (fn. 119) by the total destruction
of the town by a body of marauding Frenchmen,
who did their work so thoroughly that for nearly
two years afterwards the place was deserted. (fn. 120) It never
seems to have thoroughly recovered itself, as at the
lawday held there 8 October 1462 it was determined
'to note and consider and diligently search and learn
of the people within the centon whereupon the
cause of the decay of the people hath been grown
and how the same may be restored again.' Despite
this the decay of the town went on, and to such an
extent that in 1559 a commission under the direction of Sir Francis Knollys was appointed to inquire
into it. (fn. 121) To the interrogatories the bailiffs and
burgesses made answer referring to the wasting of
the town in 1377 and the endeavour to recover its
prosperity in 1462, asserting that ever since the
disaster of 1377 when 'we loste our habitacons, our
people and the full use of our liberties' … the
town 'hathe not, nor ys yette fullie builded and
recouv'd,' and requesting 'the Queene's Matie and
her honorable counsaylle' to give a favourable ear to
the remedies they suggested for the prosperity of
Newport and the Island in general, namely: To
grant the endowments of Newport Chantry for the
support of a schoolmaster 'to brynge uppe youthe in
lerninge and vertewe'; to remit payment of tenths
and fifteenths and the tax on 'Kersies made within
the said towne' so that the industry may increase;
to transfer the receipt of custom on goods entering
and leaving the port from Southampton to Newport;
to allow Island fishermen to sell their herrings and
mackerel where they wished and forbid any Island
sheepskins from being sold without being first tanned;
to relieve Islanders from attendance at mainland
sessions and allow outside processes to be served by
the bailiffs of Newport; and that the Captain of the
Wight 'may also be Vice-Admiral within its bounds.'
Despite these suggestions little seems to have been
done, though the population at the time the commission was appointed had increased since the reign
of Edward VI by nearly 500—as the town, according
to Sir John Oglander, was a poor sort of place in the
16th century, (fn. 122) and in such an insanitary condition
that in Michaelmas 1583 the plague broke out and
carried off over 200 inhabitants.
The Corporation Books of the 17th century give
a very graphic insight into the daily life of a provincial
town of the period. Curiously enough the very
time when interesting entries are to be expected—
during the Treaty of Newport, 6 September to
30 November 1648—is an absolute blank. Not a
line of record is preserved about the coming of the
king, his meeting with the Parliamentary Commissioners, the daily brawls between Cavaliers and
Puritans which we know took place, or the final
departure of Charles for Hurst Castle.
During the negotiations the king and his friends
occupied the grammar school and the Parliamentary
Commissioners the Bull Inn, while the meetings
took place in the town hall. The subject of the
negotiations related chiefly to the governance of the
church and the militia, but the treaty led to no
satisfactory results.
In the latter part of the 18th century Newport was
quite a lively town, with dramatic performances, (fn. 123)
a periodical assembly, (fn. 124) routs, reviews, and even
duels, (fn. 125) for the Island was full of the military
element (fn. 126) with the gay consequences. The country
gentlemen drove in for diversion and many of them
had town houses in the principal streets. On market
days the town was crowded with farmers' waggons
and country people. (fn. 127) It was in Newport market
the legality of the customary bushel was first
questioned. (fn. 128)
MANORS
The manor of NEWPORT was
always held by the lords of the Island,
whose representatives held courts. It
passed with Carisbrooke Castle (q.v.) to the Crown,
whose interest was eventually represented only by a
fee-farm rent paid by the Corporation. (fn. 129)
During the 13th and 14th centuries the abbey of
Quarr acquired in and near the borough of Newport
numerous tenements and land, afterwards known as
the manor of NEWPORT. (fn. 130) At the Dissolution
the manor was valued at £6 6s. 2d. (fn. 131) The manor
seems to have been retained by the Crown until
1628–9, when it was granted by Charles I to trustees
for the City of London in payment of his debts to
the city. (fn. 132) In February 1629 these trustees sold the
manor to John Lamott and William Kinge, (fn. 133) and
they conveyed it in 1632 to Humphrey afterwards
Sir Humphrey Bennet. (fn. 134) It passed from him to
his brother Thomas Bennet of Babraham, who was
created a baronet in 1660 and died in 1667. (fn. 135)
His son and successor Sir Levinus sold the manor
in 1668 to Cheyney Colepeper, one of the younger
sons of the Rt. Hon. John Lord Colepeper, and to
Alexander Colepeper of Leeds Castle. (fn. 136) From
them it seems to have passed to Thomas Lord
Colepeper, elder brother of Cheyney, (fn. 137) who died
in 1688–9, (fn. 138) leaving a daughter Katherine wife of
Thomas Lord Fairfax of Cameron. Her two sons
Thomas and Robert both died without leaving surviving issue, (fn. 139) and the latter on his death in 1793
left his estates to the issue of his sister Frances by
Denny Martin. (fn. 140) Dr. Denny Martin, afterwards
Fairfax, the elder son of Frances, died in 1800, and
his brother General Philip Martin, who dealt with
the manor of Newport in 1816, (fn. 141) died in 1821,
leaving his estates to his paternal relative Fiennes
Wykeham. (fn. 142) He assumed the name Martin (fn. 143) in
accordance with the will of General Martin, and died
in 1840, when his son Charles Wykeham Martin
succeeded. (fn. 144) No manorial rights now exist in connexion with this estate, which is perhaps represented
by two houses, two cottages and some land in Newport belonging to Mr. Charles Wykeham Martin.
Colepeper. Argent a bend engrailed gules.
Fairfax. Argentthree gimel bars gules with a lion sable over all.
Wykeham. Argent two cheverons sable between three roses gules.
Martin. Gules a lion in an orle of crosslets and molets or.
Towards the end of the 13th century Henry
Oglander held two thirds of half a fee in Nunwell
and CODIBEAR (Cotebear, Codibere, xiii cent.;
Codebare Poyly, Suthcodibear Poyly, Codibyarpoyli,
xiv cent.) of the honour of Carisbrooke. (fn. 145) In 1285
Bartholomew Attenalre and Alice his wife quitclaimed
half a messuage in Newport to Jordan de Poyly, (fn. 146)
and in 1327 William de Poyly, rector of St. Mary the
Greater, Ilchester, granted Nicholas le Yonge and
Annora his wife all the lands and tenements at Codibear Poyly near Newport which had descended to
him on the death of his kinsman John de Poyly. (fn. 147)
Annora was the widow of Henry Poyley, William's
brother, and in 1332–3 she granted this estate to her
brother Henry Oglander. (fn. 148) William Poyly when
granting the estate to his sister-in-law retained for
himself a yearly rent, which in 1332–3 he granted
to Henry Oglander. (fn. 149) The latter in 1333 agreed
to grant this property to the Abbot of Quarr, (fn. 150) and
did so on obtaining royal licence to that effect in
1337. (fn. 151) After this date Codibear was evidently
included in the Abbot of Quarr's manor of Newport.
The name has now disappeared, but a close called
Coderberry on the north part of Powleslane in Newport is mentioned in a conveyance of the manor of
Newport in 1628, (fn. 152) and in a conveyance of 1666 it
occurs as a parcel of the manor of Newport. (fn. 153)
The priory of ST. CROSS, a cell of the abbey of
Tiron, was sold by the Abbot of Tiron in 1391 to the
warden and scholars of Winchester College. (fn. 154) The
priory has long since disappeared, but St. Cross Farm,
which marks its site, is still held by the warden and
scholars of Winchester College. (fn. 155)
CHURCHES
In 1854 the 12th-century church
of ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY, (fn. 156) built c. 1180, was pulled
down to make way for the present structure, a fine
building with 14th-century details, whose lofty tower
dominates the town. The church, which is entered
by a west door in the tower, has a long nave of five
bays with high pointed arches with clearstory over
and a chancel with north and south chapels, in the
latter of which stands the fine 16th-century monument (fn. 157) to Sir Edward Horsey, Captain of the Wight
1565–82. This is of coloured alabaster, inlaid with
marble, with side columns supporting a cornice, over
which are the armorial bearings of Sir Edward, who
lies in effigy below clad in the full armour of the
period, his feet resting against a horse's head, his
family bearing. In the north chapel is the memorial
erected by Queen Victoria in 1856 to the Princess
Elizabeth, (fn. 158) a remarkably fine piece of modern
sculpture, and a good medallion bust of Prince Albert,
both by Marochetti.
The church, which is of good proportions though
rather poor detail, is much disfigured by western
galleries which block the light and add a gloominess
to the interior. There is a fine 17th-century pulpit
with an elaborate canopy, (fn. 159) the gift of Stephen
March in 1631. On the sides are emblematical
figures representing the theological virtues, Faith,
Hope and Charity, and the cardinal virtues, Justice,
Prudence, Temperance, and Fortitude, beneath which
are carved the seven liberal sciences. (fn. 160) The canopy
bears figures of Peace and Justice, supported on either
side by angels with trumpets, while along the frieze
runs the legend, 'Cry aloud and spare not, lift up
thy voice like a trumpet.' On a panel at the back
is an arm holding in the hand a battle-axe, the crest of
the donor. The remains of an old chancel screen (fn. 161)
are worked into the reading desk. There is a Jacobean
font inscribed 'THE · GIVET · OF · ANNE · KEITH ·
WIDOW · 1637,' the cover of which now does duty
as a stand for the lectern. To this period belong
the quaint oak collecting boxes on which is carved
the date 1635. (fn. 162) The fine organ was built in 1870.
There are eight bells: the fourth, sixth, seventh
and tenor cast by William Eldridge in 1675; the
third and treble recast in 1808 and 1857 respectively;
the second and fifth cast by Mears in 1808. (fn. 163)
The plate consists of two chalices with covers,
1630; two flagons, an almsdish and two patens,
1696; the gift of Eustace Man of Osborne.
The registers date from 1541. Under the year
1554 is a reference to the coming of 'a Navy of Shyppys
oute of Spayne … wyth Phylyp Prynce of Spayne.'
The church of ST. JOHN BAPTIST in St. John's
Road—a plain, uninteresting stone structure erected
in 1837—consists of a nave and chancel with two
octagonal turrets flanking the west end. The register
dates from 1838, the ecclesiastical parish having been
formed from Carisbrooke in 1837, (fn. 164) and the living
is in the hands of trustees, the endowment being
chiefly derived from pew rents.
ADVOWSON
Newport was originally a chapelry
annexed to the church of Carisbrooke. Richard de Redvers, fourth
Earl of Devon, arranged with the monks of Carisbrooke
that they should hold divine service every day in the
chapel of Newport, and his uncle and successor
William de Vernon granted the monks a rent of 2
marks from the tolls of Newport on their undertaking
to serve the chapel. (fn. 165) The townsfolk of Newport
upon 'the great feast day' were to visit their mother
church of Carisbrooke, as had formerly been the
custom. In 1559 the burgesses of Newport stated
that they had no parish church but a chapel maintained at their own expense belonging to the church
of Carisbrooke, with a minister hired at a wage of
£6 13s. 4d. They suggested that as no service had
been held in the chapel of St. Nicholas for thirty
years, the profits of the vicarage of St. Nicholas might
be annexed to the chapel of Newport. (fn. 166)
In 1644 the inhabitants of Newport unsuccessfully
petitioned that their chapel might be made parochial,
and that an annual payment of 2s. in the pound might
be made, half by the landlord and half by the tenants,
from the rent of houses and lands in the town for
the maintenance of the ministry, and that part of the
tithes and profits belonging to the impropriation of
Newchurch might be annexed to the living. (fn. 167)
However, in 1653 the mayor and chief burgesses
ordered that a rate not exceeding 1s. 6d. in the pound
for one year should be levied on all lands and houses
in the borough for the maintenance of a minister. (fn. 168)
The chapelry became a vicarage in 1858, (fn. 169) and the
patronage was transferred in 1871 from the provost
and scholars of Queen's College, Oxford, to the Bishop
of Winchester, (fn. 170) who has since held it.
At the time of the plague in Newport in 1582
the death rate was so great that the churchyard at
Carisbrooke was found insufficient, and one had to
be opened at Newport on a parcel of land called
Cossam, part of the manor of Cosham where the
shooting butts stood. (fn. 171) This burial-ground was
superseded by a new one provided by the Burial
Board in 1858. (fn. 172)
Sir John Oglander in his memorials of the 16th
and 17th centuries mentions a custom which was
then observed at Newport. On Easter Day the
vicar of Carisbrooke came to his chapel of Newport
to administer the sacrament, 'and he wase to dine
with ye Baylie nowe maior of Nuport, and at suppor
the Viccor invited ye burgesses to supper to an inne,
where he wase to provyde gammons of bacon at his
owne chardge, and to giye 5s. towardes ye wyne:
and every burges was to pay his shilling, and every
new burges that had been made since ye last meeting
wase to give his pottell of wyne to ye maior: and
then aftor supper the maior and burgesses weare to
bring ye Viccor on his way to Caresbrooke as far as
ye chappell fylde, and then to take theyre leaves.
This wase called ye love feast betweene ye towne and
theyre Viccor.' (fn. 173)
Sir Anthony Wydevil in 1468 agreed to pay the
tenths and fifteenths due to the Crown from the
bailiffs of Newport, on condition that they would pay
4d. in the pound to the indigent poor and pray
specially for Sir Anthony and Elizabeth his wife, and
find during the term of the grant a fit chaplain to
celebrate masses at the altar of the Blessed Virgin
Mary on four days in the year. (fn. 174)
In 1616 a faculty was granted by the Archbishop
of Canterbury to the Mayor and burgesses of Newport
for ten pews in the church to be reserved to their use.
John Garston, a prominent burgess of Newport,
proposed to found a chantry dedicated in honour of
the Virgin Mary in the chapel of Newport, but was
prevented by death from doing so. But he left
certain lands to Robert Parfite, John Vobe, Robert
Virsey and John for its foundation, and these trustees
obtained licence in 1449 to found a chantry, to be
called the chantry of John Garston and John White. (fn. 175)
Garston's object in founding the chantry was to supplement the services of the single chaplain of Newport
by those of another 'chaplain to celebrate daily divine
service and the sacraments to fishermen and other
mariners coming to the said town in tempestuous
times,' and 'also specially to pray for the welfare of
our lord King Henry VI and Queen Margaret his
consort.' (fn. 176) The chantry at its suppression is stated
to have been founded by John Garston and John
White to support a priest to sing for their souls. (fn. 177)
In 1455–6 Robert Parfyte, clerk, granted a messuage,
land and stalls in Newport, Fairlee and Shide (inter
alia) to John Boynton, the chaplain of this chantry, (fn. 178)
and in 1456–7 John leased to John White and John
Baret a messuage called Chaunterie Barn. (fn. 179)
There is no record of any grant of this chantry
after the time of its seizure by the Crown, but in
1559 the inhabitants of Newport suggested that its
endowment should be granted to the grammar school. (fn. 180)
This does not seem to have been done, for in 1780
John Fleming was paying rent for the chantry of
Newport. (fn. 181)
There is a Roman Catholic church in Pyle Street, (fn. 182)
a plain brick building erected in 1791, at the cost of
Mrs. Elizabeth Heneage; a Congregational church
in Lower St. James' Street, (fn. 183) established in 1662,
built in 1699 and rebuilt in 1778 and again in
1848 (fn. 184) ; a Baptist chapel at the top of the High
Street, built 1809, (fn. 185) enlarged 1872; Wesleyan (fn. 186)
and Primitive Methodist (fn. 187) chapels in Pyle Street; a
Unitarian (fn. 188) church in High Street, founded in 1728;
a United Methodist chapel in Quay Street, built in
1880; a Friends' meeting-house in High Street;
and a Salvation Army barracks in Lugley Street.
There is also a Wesleyan Methodist chapel at Hunny
Hill.
CHARITIES
The Free Grammar School in
Lower St. James' Street was founded
by subscription in 1614, and endowed
by Sir Richard Worsley (deed 1617), Sir Thomas
Fleming (deed 1617), John Pittis (deed 1625) and
John Serle (deed 1620), and is endowed with houses
and land of the annual rental value of £150 or
thereabouts.
The Blue School Foundation, formerly the Girls'
Charity School, is regulated by a scheme of the Board
of Education, 23 December 1907, and possesses an
endowment of £4,817 1s. 4d. consols, producing
£120 8s. 4d. a year, of which £2,513 6s. 6d. arose
from subscriptions and donations, £242 14s. 10d.
consols from sale in 1889 of land and disused school
buildings, and £723 8s. 9d. consols accumulations of
income, and the remainder from legacies under the
wills of Miss Scott (1860), Rev. G. Richards (1843),
Mary Davis Parker (1876), Robert Bell (1880), and
Miss Cecilia Scott (1888). The stock is held by the
official trustees.
In 1688 John Mann by his will gave a fee-farm
rent of £53 16s. 4d. issuing out of the manor of
Overton, Yorkshire, for the benefit of poor orphans
and maintenance of poor old people. The charity
is applied in apprenticing poor children, a preference
being given to orphans.
In 1909 four were apprenticed at a premium of
£10 each.
Almshouse Charities.
The Lower or Worsley's
Almshouse in Crocker Street was founded by Giles
Kent, who devised the almshouse and £100 to Sir
Richard Worsley, bart., for the accommodation of five
or more old people. Sir Richard Worsley by deed
17 May 1618 granted the almshouse to the mayor
and burgesses and also a rent-charge of £10 out of the
manors of Chale and Walpen. The trust property
now consists of the almshouse occupied by six inmates,
a small garden at rear let at £5 a year, the rent-charge
of £10 above mentioned, and a rent-charge of £10
under will of Christian Roman of Shorwell. There
is also a sum of £160 in the Isle of Wight Savings
Bank.
The Upper Almshouses in the High Street, supposed
to have been established in 1650 by Stephen Marsh,
are occupied by four inmates, who receive 10s. a year
about Christmas in respect of the charity of John
Serle for the grammar school. The upkeep of the
almshouses is defrayed out of parochial funds.
The Broadlands Home Charity was founded and
endowed by Mrs. Mary Nunn Harvey in 1880 for
the following purposes, namely: to provide a home
training (as servants) and outfit for a number of poor
girls for two years, and to provide residence and
board for forty ladies of limited means, on payment
by them of sums varying from £20 to £26 per
annum.
The endowment consists of £10,000 London and
South-Western Railway 3½ per cent. preference stock,
£9, 162 London, Tilbury and Southend Railway
4 per cent. debenture stock, £100 annuity East
Indian Railway, £2,000 3 per cent. debenture stock
of the same railway, and £12 annuity of the Great
Indian Peninsular Railway.
The several securities are held by the official trustees,
producing £890 a year or thereabouts.
The Poor's Land consists of 10 a. 1 r. 12 p. in
Kitbridge, allotted in 1815 as compensation for the
right of the inhabitants to sere and broken wood in
Parkhurst Forest. The rents of about £15 a year
are applied for the benefit of the poor.
The poor formerly received £4 a year in respect
of a legacy of £100 by will of William Bowles, proved
in the P.C.C. 1748; also £4 a year in respect of
a legacy of £100 by will of Sarah Ruffin, proved in
the P.C.C. 1773, which legacies were secured by two
bonds of £100 each of the Isle of Wight House of
Industry.
The Congregational United Charities are regulated
by a scheme of the Charity Commissioners, 22 April
1910, namely:—
1. The chapel and trust property in St. James's
Street, comprised in deeds dated in 1813, 1847 and
1877.
2. The school building and trust property in
St. James's Street, comprised in deeds dated in 1835
and 1876.
3. The chapel building situate at Nodehill, comprised in deeds dated in 1811 and 1829.
4. Stephen Day's endowment (£115) for benefit
of the minister of the congregation in St. James's
Street.
5. Sundry school and trust property at Horsebridge
Hill in the parish of Northwood, comprised in deed
dated 26 December 1895.
The real estate consists of a house and shops
producing £50 yearly belonging to the chapel in
St. James's Street and a house and shop and a house
at Nodehill producing £34 yearly.
The personal estate consists of £115, Stephen Day's
endowment above mentioned, £100 given by Edward
Cooke for the chapel in St. James's Street, £100 by
the same donor for the school in the same street, and
£180 given by Mrs. Mitchell for the chapel in
St. James's Street. These several sums have been
applied in liquidation of a mortgage of £500, and by
an order of the Charity Commissioners 1 March 1889
are being replaced by payment of twenty-five annual
instalments of £15 each.
The amount now (1910) held by the official trustees
is £442 14s. 6d. consols.
There is also a sum of £150 consols held by the
trustees representing Mrs. Moore's legacy.
In 1891 John Odyer by his will, proved at London
9 February, bequeathed £45, the interest to be
applied in equal shares among poor men and women
over sixty years of age, who shall receive Holy
Sacrament on Christmas Day, Easter Day or WhitSunday. The legacy was invested in £46 17s. 2d.
consols with the official trustees, producing £1 3s. 5d.
a year.