> TRAVEL FILES <

THE SIGN HUNTERS

@thesignhunters • #thesignhunters • #handfulsadventures • #apiginchina

ENGLAND: Exploring Newport and Church Aston

Written by Laszlo, 13 October 2018

My exploration across Shropshire carries on. A few days ago, a fantastic, sunny day was forecast, so I planned a day out to Newport. If you type Newport in a Google search bar, the Welsh one will be dropped out first but this is not the same as the one in Shropshire, England. The one in Southeast Wales, in its native Welsh, is called Casnewydd and has a population around 150,000. There is also a 'Newport' in Pembrokeshire which is Southwest Wales called as Trefdraeth and has a population around 1,000.

Newport sounds so common, I am sure it appears a huge number of times every now and then in different areas across Great Britain. Wikipedia alone has over ten entries of Newport for England. But the Newport I am on about even states it on its sign that it is from Shropshire! I have never really understood why one could not choose a different place name, it just loses its uniqueness. Even its previous name, Newborough, would have been a better choice, but hey! This is what it is called now, folks: Newport, Shropshire, England. I have to point out though that this Newport is part of the historic (or as they call it the ceremonial) county of Shropshire. In 1974, it was integrated into the newly formed district called The Wrekin, which changed its name in 1988 and since then, Newport is part of the Telford and Wrekin unitary authority. Confusing, I know. You need time to understand the administrative divisions of the UK.

So, this Newport has around 11,000 inhabitants which makes it the second largest settlement in Telford and Wrekin and the fifth largest in the ceremonial county of Shropshire. It is a market town and the history of trade throughout the centuries has left its charm on the modern face of Newport. Lots of beautiful, old buildings everywhere you look. Spending a day here gives one plenty of time to explore it properly and this is what I did. Check my photos out of St Nicholas Church, several pubs and lots of buildings along the High Street, pictures taken along the old canal way, and a few more images from the Church Aston area including St Andrew's Church.

Enjoy the exploration!