Newport River Usk and Transporter Bridge - About 1907
Photo reference number: 281
Postcard - maker unknown. Postmarked 1913.
Very detailed view. Notice the hospital just to the left of centre.
The road were are looking straight down, among the regimented rows of houses in Pill, is Pottery Terrace.
The houses being constructed in the foreground are the present 28 and 30 Dewsland Park Road. The road stopped at number 32 at the time, later it was carried on - twisting down the hill to Clytha Square.
Looking at the Newport directories we can deduce the progress of the road construction and the building of houses. Work commenced at the top... In 1901 there is no record of Dewsland Park Road. In 1903 just 3 houses had been built. By 1905 6 villas were being built and there were 4 occupied properties. In 1907 the even side (right, going down) went from 2 to 28, and the odd side from 1 to 25. By 1916 the even side went from 2 to 80 and the odd side 1 to 87. Some renumbering of the houses went on between 1907 and 1911. The house named the Glebe was number 28 in 1907 and number 32 in 1911.
It would seem that the above photo was taken around 1907, when WH Shute was living in the Glebe (then number 28), the large house to the left of the two semis being built. Later in 1911 the occupants of the houses being built were: no. 28, Bayonne, Mrs Mary Latimer and no. 30, Usk View, William Edwards.
The 1911 Census provides us with more information... Mary Latimer was a widow living on her own means. Also in the house were her son by previous marriage, Leopold de Rathier du Verge, age 39, deputy borough electrical engineer for Newport Mon. Corp. His full name was Leopold Louis Astane De Rathier Du Verge. He apparently later emigrated to Australia. Also living there was her sister , Elizabeth Larkworthy Crocker.
The photo also appears in "A Guide To Newport, Mon. Being No 113 of The "Borough" Guides. Printed and Published by R. H. Johns, Ltd., Newport". Date around 1907. "An A&G Taylor photo."
The map below the picture shows the angle of view.
