| Newport, Described in the 1791 Universal British Directory |
| In 1791, Newport is listed under Shifnal, initially, and is described thus:- Newport, on the borders of Staffordshire, is a little market-town, where is one of the noblest foundations for a school in the whole kingdom, endowed by a Mr Adams, an haberdasher, of London, to the value of seven thousand pounds. The school is seventy feet long, twenty-two wide, and the same in height ; a library, an house for both the master and usher, forty pounds a-year to the first and twenty to the other ; and a garden to each house of an acre, and two acres for the boys to play in. Near it he has likewise built an alms-house ; and gave five hundred and fifty pounds towards building the town-house. - There is likewise an English school in this town, of a very ancient foundation, free to all the inhabitants, worth about thirty pounds a-year, and in the gift of the crown. Newport gave the title of baron to the late Earls of Bradford, and the Earls of Shrewsbury and Gower are joint lords of the manor. The facetious Tom Brown was a native of this town, his father being a tanner therein. Coppice Green - John Smith (F.), Builder. Aston Hall - John Moultrie Esq. Stanton - Richard Phillips (F.), John Roden (F.) Upton - Richard Langley (F.) Windmill Inn. Priors-lee, two miles and a half from Shifnal - Rev. Edward Roberts. Benjamin Rowley, proprietor of the extensive coal-works at Pain's Lane and Oakengates, near Shifnal. However, in the Appendix to the Directory, Newport appears again:- Newport, Shropshire is distant from London 141 miles, forty from Chester, Twenty from Whitchurch, nineteen from Shrewsbury, and eighteen from Bridgenorth. It is situated on a plain near the borders of Staffordshire, by the Roman way called Watling-Street; but it is most remarkable for its free-school, already spoke of (above). The church has a square tower and six bells, also a clock and chimes. Here was once a monastery. The market is on Saturday; and fairs, Saturday before Palm-Sunday, May 28, July 27, and Dec. 10. The post is dispatched for London every day except Saturday at seven in the morning; arrives from London every evening except Monday at seven. Cross post dispatched at the same hours. The Excise-Office is at the Red Lion Inn: Mr. Seare, Collector; Mr. Growcott and Mr. Witherall, Officers. BANKERS. - Horden, Molineux, and Bishton, draw on Harcourt, Blake, Sanson, Postlethwaite, and Tamer, No. 65, Lombard-Street, London. A coach from the Red Lion inn to London, Tuesday, Thrusday, and Saturday, morning, at four o'clock; and one for Chester the same evening at eleven o'clock. - Scott's waggon to London every Tuesday morning at four o'clock. - Ceswell's cart to Wellington and Shiffnall on Tuesdays. Principal Inhabitants:- |
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