Beyond Newport: Cwmbran Takes The Biscuit

Beyond Newport: Cwmbran Takes The Biscuit

The Sweetest Business in Cwmbran. The longest established employer in Cwmbran is biscuit maker Burton's Foods, who employ 1000 people to make its Jammie Dodgers and Wagon Wheels biscuits. Burton's Biscuit Factory in Cwmbran opened in 1948. The factory played a key role in Cwmbran's industrial development, providing jobs for thousands of local residents over the decades. The factory produces approximately 400 million Wagon Wheels every year! In 2015, five men stole a container from the site with £20,000 worth […]

28 February 2025 32

Local History

Beyond Newport: Lynn The Leap

Who is Lynn The Leap? Lynn Davies, nicknamed "Lynn the Leap," is a Welsh former athlete who won the gold medal in the men's long jump at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. His victory made him the first and so far only athlete from the United Kingdom to win Olympic gold in the long jump. He jumped 8.07 meters (26 feet, 6 inches), defeating American favorite Ralph Boston and Soviet jumper Igor Ter-Ovanesyan. Born in Nantymoel, Wales, in 1942, Davies was […]

19 February 2025 28

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Beyond Newport: Magor Marsh

What's So Great About Magor? Magor is a village in Monmouthshire. It has a fascinating history and unique characteristics. One of its most interesting features is the Magor Marsh, a rare and protected wetland that is home to a variety of wildlife, including otters and water voles. It is one of the last remaining areas of natural fenland in Wales. Magor also has deep historical roots, with its name derived from the Welsh "Magwyr," meaning a "wall" or "ruin," hinting […]

11 February 2025 39

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Beyond Newport: Blackwood’s Chartist Bridge

Newport City Radio is proud to broadcast to many towns surrounding Newport. Beyond Newport is a series of interesting facts about some of theose The Chartist Bridge, Blackwood The Chartist Bridge, opened in 2005, spans the Sirhowy Valley in Blackwood, Gwent, and is named in honor of the Chartist movement. The movement, active in the early 19th century, campaigned for political and social reforms, notably universal male suffrage. Blackwood played a key role in this movement, which culminated in the […]

10 January 2025 94

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Newport Factoid # 26: Newport Wetlands

Newport Wetlands: A Hidden Gem of Nature and Wildlife The Newport Wetlands is a stunning nature reserve located on the Gwent Levels near Newport, South Wales. Established in 2000 as compensation for the loss of habitat caused by the Cardiff Bay Barrage, it has become a haven for wildlife and a favorite spot for nature enthusiasts. The reserve covers over 1,000 acres and is home to diverse bird species, including lapwings, little egrets, and the iconic avocet. It features scenic […]

27 December 2024 14

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Newport Factoid #27: Golden Jubilee City

A Reason to Celebrate! Newport, officially became a city on March 18, 2002, as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. The announcement was met with a mixture of pride and debate among residents. Supporters viewed city status as a recognition of Newport's historical significance, industrial legacy, and evolving role as a modern urban center. Critics questioned whether the town possessed the infrastructure and cultural institutions traditionally associated with city status. City status brought increased investment and attention, fueling […]

20 December 2024 14

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Newport Factoids: #24 Mari Lwyd

Who is Mari Lwyd? Like many villages & towns around South Wales, Newport hosts an annual tradition, a visit by the Mari Lwyd (grey mare) as she travels around the area. The hobby horse, made of a horse's skull mounted on a stick and held by a man in a sheet has been a local folk custom since about 1800 and happens around Christmas and New Year. The Mari Lwyd is accompanied by a group of merrymen, musicians and dancers […]

13 December 2024 52 1

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Local History

Newport Factoids: #25 Rolling By The River!

Roller Skating, that is! Maskell's in Lower Dock Street was the place to be throughout the 1980s if you were a youngster and roller discos were what the 80s were made for. The roller rink was originally half ice but became a full roller rink in 1982. As with most activities of the era, health and safety were minor considerations, with rough games of British Bulldog and long trains of skaters being the norm. The one concession for safety was […]

22 November 2024 35 4

Local History

Newport Factoid #20 – Dr. Who’s Tardis

Knock Knock...Who's there? The Somerton TARDIS is a Police box on Acacia Avenue beside the B4237 road (Chepstow Road) in the Somerton area of Newport, South Wales. This police box is the only remaining one of four that were in Newport. It is a Grade II listed building. The police box that dates from the 1930s was given a facelift and decorated with a painted Tom Baker scarf.

25 October 2024 31

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Factoid

Beyond Newport: Cwmbran Takes The Biscuit

Beyond Newport: Lynn The Leap

Beyond Newport: Magor Marsh

Beyond Newport: Blackwood’s Chartist Bridge

Newport Factoid # 26: Newport Wetlands

Newport Factoid #27: Golden Jubilee City

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