Commercial Street, Newport


Commercial Street is a 700-yard long main shopping street leading from the city centre of Newport, South Wales.

History and description

Commercial Street and Commercial Road were created in 1810 across open pasture land which had to be raised several feet using ship ballast so that it no longer flooded at the high Spring tides. This was part of a plan by Charles Morgan, 1st Baron Tredegar to increase Newport's importance and develop his land; in 1807 he had granted a lease on 200 acres of land to allow the Tredegar Wharf Company to create the new mile-long road. The new road led approximately south-southeast from the junction with High Street, linking the town centre with Pillgwenlly and the early Newport Docks.
Notable buildings on Commercial Street were the Westgate Hotel, Newport's Town Hall, the Empire Theatre, and several banks and large department stores.

Modern day

The northern half of Commercial Street, from Westgate Square as far as Hill Street, is part of the Town Centre Conservation Area, including many listed buildings rising to three or four storeys, dating from the Victorian period to the early 20th century.
In the 2010s several large national stores left Commercial Street, amongst them Marks and Spencer, Burton and Monsoon leaving empty shop units, charity shops or bargain stores in their place.