THE year 2014 is the 700th anniversary of Newport’s first town charter, when it also received its name.

There have been communities in and around Newport for more than 3,000 years. Somewhere in the Newport area were the residences of the Kings of Ewyas, the kingdom of the ancient Britons (the Silure tribe).

The original Kingdom of Ewyas consisted of parts of modern-day Hereford, Gloucestershire and the whole of Glamorgan and Gwent. The King was also a High King of Britain.

The Kingdom of Ewyas (which later evolved into a smaller Kingdom of Gwent) existed for at least 2,000 years and ceased to exist in the late 13th century.

During the Roman occupation, the Romans divided Britain into four provinces. Wales and the the south-west of England became the province of Britannia Prima (the First Britons).

In the early 6th century, the Kingdom of Ewyas may have been ruled by King Arthur. By this time Christianity was well established in Wales and the Romano-British fortress/city at Caerleon may well have been a capital city and archdiocese.

It is alleged that Archbishop Dubricus crowned King Arthur at Caerleon. The archbishops of Caerleon, it is said, held equal rank to York and Canterbury.

Brian Hayes Clearwell Court Bassaleg Newport