Newport, Essex
Encyclopedia
Newport is a large village in Essex
near Saffron Walden
, in which Newport Free Grammar School
is located. The village has a population of just over 2,000.
Located approximately 41 miles (51 kilometers) north of London the village is situated amongst the arable
fields of northern Essex. With a regular train service to London Liverpool Street Station from the Newport (Essex) railway station
the village is considered to be within commuting
distance of the Capital and as such attracts a number of workers from London City
.
Newport is the centre point of the long distance path "The Harcamlow Way", a figure of eight walk between the towns of Cambridge
and Harlow
, consequently it has a large number of walks radiating from its centre; short walks of surrounding interest include those heading towards Saffron Walden, the English Heritage
property of Audley End House
or Prior Hall Barn in Widdington.
. The name is thought to be of Anglo-Saxon
origin and is thought to mean new town or market, rather than a modern day seaport. “Port” was often a name for a market in Saxon times, and Newport did have a flourishing market in this period.
The village prospered until around 1300 AD, after which it declined and its market ceased; it was overtaken in importance by the town and neighbour, Saffron Walden.
Until the 20th century Newport was mostly dependent upon agriculture in addition to local trade of leather, woolcombing and in later years, malting.
There are many attractive old buildings in the village, a characteristic of the area. The church, St Mary the Virgin, dates from the late 14th century. Perhaps the two most interesting other buildings are The Crown House (mostly late 16th century), and Monks Barn, a Wealden
type house dating from the 15th century.
In 1588 Newport Free Grammar School
was founded by Dame Joyce Frankland; although it has retained its name it began to take boys of all abilities in 1976, and is now fully comprehensive as well as co-educational.
On the creation of a turnpike trust in 1744 the main road was greatly improved. This brought new people and new trade to the village, as did the arrival of the railway in 1845.
The greatest changes have occurred recently. 100 years ago about 900 people, largely agricultural workers, lived in some 220 dwellings. By 1971 the population had increased somewhat to over 1,200. Since then all the livestock farms have closed, fields, orchards and farm premises in the centre of the village have been built over, and more than 2,200 people now occupy over 900 houses.
Newport is home to a tennis club and youth organisations and benefits from the Village Hall where activities include a farmers' market, bingo, keep fit, the Footlight Theatre Dance School, Newport Amateur Theatrical Society, Newport Art Group, and Saffron Walden Indoor Carpet Bowls Club.
Newport is famed for its exceptional village magazine, Newport News; which is published twice a year and runs to around 150 pages. It is also noted for its themed bonfire night firework display on November 5th each year, which attracts an international audience.
Its purpose is simple: to help promote the vibrant business community within which promotional activities can be launched.
The association's aims are:
• Allow the business community within Newport to voice local community issues to organisations
• To create links with local authorities for consultation and information
• To understand best practices and enable companies to network and promote village businesses
• To gather ideas and initiatives that promote businesses with Newport and the local area.
lived here as wife of the school master around 1646.
Chef Jamie Oliver
went to Newport Free Grammar School and lives in a village nearby. His father owns a pub called The Cricketers in the nearby village of Clavering
. The professional footballer Matt Holland
attended the same school, as did Martin Caton MP.
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
near Saffron Walden
Saffron Walden
Saffron Walden is a medium-sized market town in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England. It is located north of Bishop's Stortford, south of Cambridge and approx north of London...
, in which Newport Free Grammar School
Newport Free Grammar School
Newport Free Grammar School, in Newport, Essex, England was founded in 1588. The school is a mixed comprehensive school with a sixth form. It previously existed in different forms including a boarding school and a grammar school. The Headteacher is Mr Seán O' Hagan and the Deputy headteachers are...
is located. The village has a population of just over 2,000.
Located approximately 41 miles (51 kilometers) north of London the village is situated amongst the arable
Arable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
fields of northern Essex. With a regular train service to London Liverpool Street Station from the Newport (Essex) railway station
Newport (Essex) railway station
Newport railway station serves the village of Newport in Essex, England. To the North of the Victorian station is the little known Audley End Viaduct...
the village is considered to be within commuting
Commuting
Commuting is regular travel between one's place of residence and place of work or full time study. It sometimes refers to any regular or often repeated traveling between locations when not work related.- History :...
distance of the Capital and as such attracts a number of workers from London City
London City
London City may refer to:*the City of London, in London, England*London City Airport, in London, England*London City Council, the governing body for London, Ontario, Canada*London City in London, Ontario, Canada...
.
Newport is the centre point of the long distance path "The Harcamlow Way", a figure of eight walk between the towns of Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
and Harlow
Harlow
Harlow is a new town and local government district in Essex, England. It is located in the west of the county and on the border with Hertfordshire, on the Stort Valley, The town is near the M11 motorway and forms part of the London commuter belt.The district has a current population of 78,889...
, consequently it has a large number of walks radiating from its centre; short walks of surrounding interest include those heading towards Saffron Walden, the English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
property of Audley End House
Audley End House
Audley End House is largely an early 17th-century country house just outside Saffron Walden, Essex, south of Cambridge, England. It was once a palace in all but name and renowned as one of the finest Jacobean houses in England. Audley End is now only one-third of its original size, but is still...
or Prior Hall Barn in Widdington.
History
The earliest mention of Newport is in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
. The name is thought to be of Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
origin and is thought to mean new town or market, rather than a modern day seaport. “Port” was often a name for a market in Saxon times, and Newport did have a flourishing market in this period.
The village prospered until around 1300 AD, after which it declined and its market ceased; it was overtaken in importance by the town and neighbour, Saffron Walden.
Until the 20th century Newport was mostly dependent upon agriculture in addition to local trade of leather, woolcombing and in later years, malting.
There are many attractive old buildings in the village, a characteristic of the area. The church, St Mary the Virgin, dates from the late 14th century. Perhaps the two most interesting other buildings are The Crown House (mostly late 16th century), and Monks Barn, a Wealden
Wealden hall house
The Wealden hall house is a type of vernacular medieval timber-framed yeoman's house traditional in the south east of England. It is most common in Kent and the east of Sussex but has also been built elsewhere...
type house dating from the 15th century.
In 1588 Newport Free Grammar School
Newport Free Grammar School
Newport Free Grammar School, in Newport, Essex, England was founded in 1588. The school is a mixed comprehensive school with a sixth form. It previously existed in different forms including a boarding school and a grammar school. The Headteacher is Mr Seán O' Hagan and the Deputy headteachers are...
was founded by Dame Joyce Frankland; although it has retained its name it began to take boys of all abilities in 1976, and is now fully comprehensive as well as co-educational.
On the creation of a turnpike trust in 1744 the main road was greatly improved. This brought new people and new trade to the village, as did the arrival of the railway in 1845.
The greatest changes have occurred recently. 100 years ago about 900 people, largely agricultural workers, lived in some 220 dwellings. By 1971 the population had increased somewhat to over 1,200. Since then all the livestock farms have closed, fields, orchards and farm premises in the centre of the village have been built over, and more than 2,200 people now occupy over 900 houses.
Entertainment
The village has two public houses. The Coach and Horses, a large 17th century Inn situated at the north end of the village, which offers a wide range of food and beverages; and the White Horse, an equally old but smaller pub in the centre of the village, which serves as the vibrant hub of the village's social activities. There is also a private members club, The Newport Club, and an Indian restaurant, The Radhuni.Newport is home to a tennis club and youth organisations and benefits from the Village Hall where activities include a farmers' market, bingo, keep fit, the Footlight Theatre Dance School, Newport Amateur Theatrical Society, Newport Art Group, and Saffron Walden Indoor Carpet Bowls Club.
Newport is famed for its exceptional village magazine, Newport News; which is published twice a year and runs to around 150 pages. It is also noted for its themed bonfire night firework display on November 5th each year, which attracts an international audience.
Business opportunities
Newport Business Association, a not-for-profit community-led business networking group, has been set up to discuss and take positive local action on issues that concern the business community in and around Newport. Membership is open to all businesses in Newport and the surrounding areas.Its purpose is simple: to help promote the vibrant business community within which promotional activities can be launched.
The association's aims are:
• Allow the business community within Newport to voice local community issues to organisations
• To create links with local authorities for consultation and information
• To understand best practices and enable companies to network and promote village businesses
• To gather ideas and initiatives that promote businesses with Newport and the local area.
Famous Inhabitants
The seventeenth century writer of books on cookery and household management, Hannah WoolleyHannah Woolley
Hannah Woolley, sometimes spelled Wolley, was a writer who published early books on household management and was probably the first to earn their living doing this.-Life:...
lived here as wife of the school master around 1646.
Chef Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver
James "Jamie" Trevor Oliver, MBE , sometimes known as The Naked Chef, is an English chef, restaurateur and media personality, known for his food-focused television shows, cookbooks and more recently his campaign against the use of processed foods in national schools...
went to Newport Free Grammar School and lives in a village nearby. His father owns a pub called The Cricketers in the nearby village of Clavering
Clavering, Essex
Clavering is a village and also a parish in north-west Essex in England. The name 'Clavering' means 'place where clover grows'.-Location and local area:...
. The professional footballer Matt Holland
Matt Holland
Matthew Rhys "Matt" Holland is a former English-born Irish footballer, who represented Republic of Ireland at international level...
attended the same school, as did Martin Caton MP.