Last week’s picture was of the old art college, Clarence Place, Newport.

In 1899 Lord Tredegar sold the land in Clarence Place to Newport College for £4,500 for the new Technical Institute to be built. It took ten more years before the foundation stone was laid and on 29th September 1910, the building was officially opened by Mayor William Blackburn.

In the first year (1910-11) the Institute attracted 305 art students and 813 for technology and commerce - a significant increase on the earlier numbers - but as the politicians had failed to obtain University College status in 1904, the new Technical Institute could not offer degrees despite its great success.

The building was the home of the Newport Technical Institute from 1910 to 1958 and subsequently the Newport College of Art until 1975. From 1975 to its closure in 1996, the magnificent building was home to the Gwent College of Further Education. Nearly a century of providing the very best in further education.

This was my school after sitting the old 11 plus exams in 1956. We called it Newport Technical College, after a couple of years there we were amalgamated with Stow Hill secondary school, Stow Hill. Many happy memories of the old college, even if we didn’t have a proper play yard.

Terry Britton, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.

It is the old Technical College. Our lessons in late 1956 were to start with at the school in Bolt Street and then the following four years in this building. The main part was for me the engineering Department, and up stairs were the art students.

We now have after many years neglected and run down been turned into apartments which at least given it a future.

D Lewis, Newport

This is the Newport Technical College on the corner of Clarence Place and Rodney Road which taught engineering, science and art, the art classes being on the top floors with the huge windows.

The College was opened in September 1910. Many on the town's young men and women who entered the College went on to brilliant careers in the arts, science and medicine. The Tech was and still is a landmark with its copper coated dome. The Tech has now served its purpose as an institute of higher learning and has been converted into flats. Dave Woolven, Newport The Now and Then pictures show the old technical college in Clarence Place. It later became the art college and was saved from dereliction by being turned into apartments.

I was never a student but I attended an exhibition there years ago. Even when functioning as a college it always appeared scruffy and unkempt. The dome above the roof is made of brass and I would love to see that cleaned and polished.

Brian J J Jelf, Newport