History
Historians believe that Newport Castle was built between 1327 and 1386 by Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester, or his son-in-law Ralph, Earl of Stafford as one of their castles. It replaced the earlier bailey castle on Stow Hill (near St. Woolos Cathedral), which had been destroyed in conflict.
The newer castle, whilst possessing a strong structure, was never needed for military purposes. In the early fifteenth century the castle was occupied by Humphrey Stafford, the first Duke of Buckingham, Lord of Newport. It was however sacked by the Welsh forces of Owain Glyndŵr 1402-3 and never really recovered. Its Constable, appointed to resist Glendower, had been Sir Gilbert Denys (d.1422) of Siston Court, Glos., in the service of Stafford, who commanded there 40 met-at-arms and 4 archers. Glendower had turned thither away from the more strongly built Chepstow Castle. After Humphrey Stafford had left the castle, it became abandoned.
Some efforts were made to re-fortify it during the English Civil War by the Royalists.
The east side is the only part of the castle to survive.
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