Newport

Newport, the capital of the Isle of Wight, on the navigable Medina, near the centre of the island, 4½ miles S. of Cowes and 10 SW. of Ryde. The church, rebuilt in 1854-56 on the site of one nearly 700 years old, is a fine Decorated edifice, and contains Marochetti's beautiful monument, erected by Queen Victoria in memory of the Princess Elizabeth, who died at Carisbrooke Castle (q.v.) on 8th September 1650. Newport besides has a town-hall (1810); a free grammar-school (1612), the scene in 1648 of the protracted but fruitless negotiations between the parliamentary commissioners and Charles I., to whose secret 'engagement' a year before with the Presbyterian Scots the town also gave name; a girls' endowed school (1761); a diocesan school (1860); and a literary institute and museum. To the north-west are a reformatory (1838) and barracks (1798). A municipal borough, Newport returned two members till 1867, and then one till 1885. Pop. (1851) 8047; (1891) 10,216.