Newport Gwent

**Some bits on my home town of Newport Gwent -

In the book crap towns - produced before the town was granted city status - it was listed at No.34. Not bad for the whole of the whole of the UK. Link here for more on that: craptowns

Anyway here are some facts, no not typing them out just giving the link to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport%2C_Gwent

But the worst thing is this:

Its called The Wave. In short a metal abortion that is covered in vomit and piss on a weekend, the paint flakes off and the lights to illuminate it from the ground have long since been smashed out by chavscum and had to be filled in by the council. (Who said chavs were all bad, even if they did it just for fun and not because its an eyesore!?)

In the distance can be seen the old castle, not much left of it these days and its only occupants are pigeons and chavs, sort of makes you feel a bit sad for the pigeons.

Other highlights of the town, sorry city include: Our bus station! A run down leaky building that because of its design or lack of acts like a fucking wind tunnel. Still although the clocks have all since died in the bus station, we do get tinny piped music - Tutonic composers mostly - played to us whilst freezing our arses off awaiting a bus. This has been nominated several times by people in Newport for the worst building in Britain and no I am not joking here.

The next major event is The Clock, this is situated in John Frost Square. Although this shot doesnt show it, the base has a wall and shrubs around it, as a deterant against drunks pissing and vomiting against the metal base - that used to happen before the wall was put there!

The thing opens up like some cheap novelty clock from a poundshop, although it cost a hell of a lot more I can assure you.

This confuses tourists who remark on how cheap and tacky it looks and it is ignored by the locals who have seen it many times before and allows carers to pick up the special needs kids as they know where they will head to on the hour!

Now this beauty sits between Iceland and the public toilets - making no comment there. Yes its a bull with a bizarre arangement of metalwork on its back.

Its supposed to symbolise where a St Woolos saw a white bull and decided to set up camp and build a church, although I am not sure if the bull had that metal bell structure on its back or not?

We have several other statues including some metal pigs outside the indoor market, although its only a matter of time before some one decides to remove them for fear of offending muslims. Link on the St Woolos cow, or rather an ox

And of course after the original settlers, then the Romans, later followed by Normans and Owain Glendwr who burned it down (although you could call it redevelopment), we come to the only thing that Newport seems to be known for the GLC.

They were mentioned in the maiden speech of Jessica Morden the one Newport MP and it has been said - often by me - that this was the highlight of the womans political career.

After all she hardly sees the hallowed house, always votes for the government and has done bugger all for the voters of Newport. Our other MP Paul Flynn has been convicted of libel - I have covered this previously - and yet still stays put in the house, and who said its hard for shady characters to be rehabilitated back into society!

Here we see the famous transporter bridge, and you can only claim to be a "true" resident of Newport, or The Port as the GLC refer to it, if you have been across it. Yes I have several times and a few of those were across the high walkway up the top.

Aside from that we have tjs a well known club, although I prefer the owner Johns other venue Langtons these days.


Finally this Ye Old Murenger that claims to be the oldest pub in Newport, although there is some arguement over that. But for no music- always a good thing in a pub - and no nitro keg piss water larger - always a good thing - then this is your place.

As it says, although they came up with the saying "A haven in a superpub ghetto". The rest of the town center is rather poor as far as decent ale houses go, although the Engineers on the edge of town serves a decent pint.

A few years back we lost the Westgate hotel where the Chartists organised a revolt and after traveling down to Newport ran into some of Her Majestys troops and were shot to pieces, well aside from those who had the good sense to run or surrender. One of those a chap called John Frost was tried and although he was due to be hung drawn & quartered they sent him to Australia - typical liberal judges, and I have to note that these days Australia sends its criminals back to us. Although the front of the Westgate is largely the same it has been transformed into a nightclub and theres little to show the passer by the history of the town. Some of the dead chartists were later buried in secret at St Woolos.


Finally a bit on my area thats known as Pill. As you can see a largely muslim area as the photo shows. (actually the photos of the hajj but near enough)

Pill is where the transporter bridge is located and where once huge amounts of coal were exported from the valleys to keep the Empire running. Now like most of the UK business has changed.

These days its mostly imports, large amounts of drugs can be easily obtained and where once local shops kept the town running, now pimps and dealers have taken over and are offering another form of local "business"

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