During the Chartist riots the Mayor of Newport, backed by some soldiers, defended himself from a mob headed by Jack Frost. Bullet marks may be seen upon a wooden pillar in the West Gate Hotel, where the Mayor concentrated his defence, many of the rioters being killed and wounded.
The road from Newport to Caerwent gives wide views over the alluvial flats between it and the Estuary of the Severn, protected from inundations by extensive embankments, while to the north the great woods lying upon high land are a pleasing contrast. At first the road is nearly flat, but it becomes undulating near Caerwent. This road is part of the Via Julia, which commenced near the mouth of the Severn, passed through Caerwent and Caerleon, and terminated at Neath in Glamorganshire.
Cencoed Castle lies upon the right hand; the remains are not very extensive, consisting chiefly of a gateway flanked with turrets. A mansion was at one time incorporated with the main portion of the castle, but was subsequently abandoned, and now the whole of the buildings form a farmhouse.
Penhow Castle lies by the side of the road, near the village of the same name. A short time after the Norman Conquest this fortress was in the possession of the Seymours. It seems to have been at one period fairly extensive, but only an old square tower with battlements remains, and this also has been converted into a farmhouse.
CAERWENT
is a small village with no pretensions of importance, although the descendant of a strong Roman town. The walls stand from 10 to 12 feet thick, are well preserved, and are similar in many respects to those at Carnarvon. A good facing of stone is backed up by a solid mass of concrete, and then a supporting bank of earth is raised behind them. The church occupies a prominent position, but does not possess any noteworthy feature. Caldicott Castle, lying to the south of the route, has extensive remains of the foundation of the twelfth century, and at the same time some indications of Saxon work belonging to the previous fortalice built upon the site. Passing Crick, Mathern is perceived upon the right. The Bishops of Llandaff had a palace here in medieval times, and portions of it are still in existence, incorporated with the modern farm-buildings.
CHEPSTOW
is a market town and river port occupying a slope on the western bank of the Wye, and surrounded by beautiful and sometimes imposing scenery.