Pictures of Newent

About Newent

This gracious market town is set in glorious countryside, and springtime sees the leafy lanes that snake around the town a riot of vivid yellow as wild daffodils carpet grassed verges and fields. Here and there, an ancient red brick farmhouse stands serenly, as if watching time pass it by, while in the surrounding meadows cattle and sheep graze contentedly. Newent is an old town, it has a long history and was the scene of turbulence at the time of the Civil War. Royalists removed lead from the church roof and used it to make bullets to fend off the Roundheads, this was in 1644. Later in 1674, the church collapsed, destroying most of the nave. It was only to be rebuilt when Charles II granted the use of wood from the nearby Forest of Dean. The town has a lovely old market house, timber-framed and dates from the 16th-century, it is remarkably well preserved. Situate around the square are handsome houses of the 18th-century. There is a museum here and several other places of interest and although genteel, there is an air of liveliness. The town has interesting shops including craft, and antiques. There are good inns and restaurants. A short distance away there is an English vineyard which makes excellent wine and welcomes visitors.

Newent is close to several famous towns and villages; the ancient border town of Monmouth is a short drive away so too is Much Marcle and the quiet village of Eastnor with it's 19th-century castle and lovely parkland is within easy driving distance.