NEWPORT, a municipal and parliamentary borough and market-town of England, county of Hants, in the Isle of Wight, on the left bank of the Medina, 18 miles S.S.E. of Southampton, and 82 S.S.W. of London. It is a neat well kept town, with good houses, chiefly built of brick, and has five principal streets, extending from E. to W., and several others crossing them at right angles. The parish church is a large and plain building, built in 1172, but frequently since then repaired and altered, though now in a somewhat dilapidated condition. In it was found in 1793 the coffin of the Princess Elizabeth, daughter of Charles I., who died at Carisbrook Castle, shortly after her father's execution. Newport has besides a modern Episcopal church, with an embattled tower; and Baptist, Independent, Wesleyan, Unitarian, Roman Catholic, and other churches. There are a handsome town-hall and market-house; a theatre; jail; grammar-school, founded in 1619, and remarkable as the scene of a conference between Charles I. and the Parliamentary Commissioners; several other schools; a public library, occupying one of the best buildings of the town; almshouses; and an infirmary. The industry of the town is chiefly employed in the making of lace, in which about 300 hands are engaged, and in the manufacture of implements of agriculture. For the latter of these Newport is widely famed. The market of Newport, which is held on Saturday, attracts a large number of persons from all parts of the Isle of Wight; and the corn and other produce of the island are exported from this town; while coal, provisions, and manufactured goods are imported. The River Medina, here crossed by a bridge, is navigable for small vessels as far as the town, which the tide nearly reaches. There
is a quay in front of the town for the accommodation of ships. In the neighbourhood of Newport there are some beautiful walks; and a fine view of the surrounding country may be obtained from a hill, called Mountjoy, to the S. of the town. The borough returns two members to the House of Commons. Pop. parliamentary borough (1851), 8047.