Newport Museum
Encyclopedia
Newport Museum is a museum
and art gallery
in the city of Newport
, Wales
. It is located in Newport city centre
on John Frost Square and is adjoined to the Kingsway Shopping Centre
.
focused on the ancient county of Monmouthshire
. The museum itself is set on two levels and takes visitors from the prehistoric age to the late Victorian era
. There is great emphasis on Isca Augusta
, the city's Roman
fortress at Caerleon
. Other exhibitions of interest include artifacts from the Chartist
Newport Rising
of 1839 in which John Frost
of Newport was a prominent figure.
. The gallery hosts a wide variety of British paintings, watercolours and contemporary art
works. The largest collection is known as the John & Elizabeth Wait Collection.
The bronze head of Newport born poet W.H. Davies
by Jacob Epstein
, from January 1917, can be found in the gallery. It is regarded by many as the most accurate artistic impression of Davies, a copy of which Davies owned himself.
. The headquarters of Newport's library network, it has a large collection of books and articles.
and Roman Baths Museum
both at Caerleon
, the Riverfront Arts Centre
, Tredegar House
, Newport Castle
and many others. The museum's collection is often swapped and exchanged with many of the other attractions' collections.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
and art gallery
Art gallery
An art gallery or art museum is a building or space for the exhibition of art, usually visual art.Museums can be public or private, but what distinguishes a museum is the ownership of a collection...
in the city of Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It is located in Newport city centre
Newport city centre
Newport city centre is traditionally regarded as the area of Newport bounded by the west bank of the River Usk, the George Street Bridge, the eastern flank of Stow Hill and the Great Western Main Line. Most of the city centre is contained within two conservation areas: the central area and the area...
on John Frost Square and is adjoined to the Kingsway Shopping Centre
Kingsway Shopping Centre
The Kingsway Shopping Centre is the principal under-cover shopping centre in the city of Newport, Wales. It has several levels and includes a range of high street shops and privately-owned boutiques. It is also home to the city's museum, art gallery and Newport Central library...
.
The museum collection
The museum is primarily concerned with history in South WalesSouth Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
focused on the ancient county of Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
. The museum itself is set on two levels and takes visitors from the prehistoric age to the late Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
. There is great emphasis on Isca Augusta
Isca Augusta
Isca Augusta was a Roman legionary fortress and settlement, the remains of which lie beneath parts of the present-day village of Caerleon on the northern outskirts of the city of Newport in South Wales.-Name:...
, the city's Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
fortress at Caerleon
Caerleon
Caerleon is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Wales. Caerleon is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman legionary fortress, Isca Augusta, and an Iron Age hill fort...
. Other exhibitions of interest include artifacts from the Chartist
Chartism
Chartism was a movement for political and social reform in the United Kingdom during the mid-19th century, between 1838 and 1859. It takes its name from the People's Charter of 1838. Chartism was possibly the first mass working class labour movement in the world...
Newport Rising
Newport Rising
The Newport Rising was the last large-scale armed rebellion against authority in mainland Britain, when on 4 November 1839, somewhere between 1,000 and 5,000 Chartist sympathisers, including many coal-miners, most with home-made arms, led by John Frost, marched on the town of Newport,...
of 1839 in which John Frost
John Frost (Chartist)
John Frost was a prominent Welsh leader of the British Chartist movement in the Newport Rising....
of Newport was a prominent figure.
Art gallery
As well as a museum, the building is home to Newport's principal art galleryArt gallery
An art gallery or art museum is a building or space for the exhibition of art, usually visual art.Museums can be public or private, but what distinguishes a museum is the ownership of a collection...
. The gallery hosts a wide variety of British paintings, watercolours and contemporary art
Contemporary art
Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced...
works. The largest collection is known as the John & Elizabeth Wait Collection.
The bronze head of Newport born poet W.H. Davies
W. H. Davies
William Henry Davies or W. H. Davies was a Welsh poet and writer. Davies spent a significant part of his life as a tramp or vagabond in the United States and United Kingdom, but became known as one of the most popular poets of his time...
by Jacob Epstein
Jacob Epstein
Sir Jacob Epstein KBE was an American-born British sculptor who helped pioneer modern sculpture. He was born in the United States, and moved to Europe in 1902, becoming a British citizen in 1911. He often produced controversial works which challenged taboos on what was appropriate subject matter...
, from January 1917, can be found in the gallery. It is regarded by many as the most accurate artistic impression of Davies, a copy of which Davies owned himself.
Library
The museum building is also home to the city's central libraryLibrary
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
. The headquarters of Newport's library network, it has a large collection of books and articles.
Facilities
There are special events for children held regularly in the museum. The museum is not on ground level and so there is a lift for disabled people and pushchairs. There is the standard array of toilets and baby changing facilities. There is also a gift shop and a small café.Links with other museums
Newport Museum works together with other museums in and around the city. Close ties are kept with the National Roman Legion MuseumNational Roman Legion Museum
The National Roman Legion Museum is one of the National Museums of Wales. It is located in Caerleon in the city of Newport, south-east Wales .-Background and History:...
and Roman Baths Museum
Roman Baths Museum
The Roman Baths Museum is located in Caerleon in the city of Newport, south-east Wales.-Background and history:Roman Wales was the farthest point west that the Roman Empire in Roman Britain extended to, and as a defence point the fortress at Caerleon, built in 75 AD, was one of only three permanent...
both at Caerleon
Caerleon
Caerleon is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Wales. Caerleon is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman legionary fortress, Isca Augusta, and an Iron Age hill fort...
, the Riverfront Arts Centre
Riverfront Arts Centre
The Riverfront is the principal and newest theatre and arts centre in the City of Newport, South Wales. It is located on the west bank of the River Usk on the Bristol Packet Wharf in the city centre...
, Tredegar House
Tredegar House
Tredegar House in Newport, set in the 90 acre Tredegar Park, is one of the best examples of a 17th century Charles II country house mansion in the United Kingdom.-History of the Building:...
, Newport Castle
Newport Castle
Newport Castle is a castle ruin in the city of Newport, South Wales and is a Grade II* Listed building. It is the castle that gives Newport its original and real name in the Welsh language, Castell Newydd, shortened to Casnewydd...
and many others. The museum's collection is often swapped and exchanged with many of the other attractions' collections.