THE pictures in the Now and Then feature of course show the tower of the St Woolos Cathedral.

The Then picture shows tramlines curving left into Clifton Road. The big post on the left hand side, was to carry the overhead wires for the trams, but where are the wires?

Are they there but do not show up? Or maybe this is taken at the time that the trams were to be replacing the former horse trams.

Straight ahead is Stow Hill and the furthest visible building on the right is the pub, originally The Six Bells, then it became the Fizog and Firkin, then the Six Bells again and eventually The Church House.

It is now closed and has been bought by Newport Cathedral. The big house in the grounds of the cathedral was demolished but when?

The Now picture shows that not much has changed. The tram lines have gone, this side of the pub there is an Italian restaurant with a bus stop outside.

My parents were married in the cathedral in 1932 and I used to attend the Sunday School in Clifton Rd.

Brian J J Jelf, Newport

Today’s photo is of Newport’s historic St Woolos Cathedral. The original church was founded in the sixth century by St Gwynllyw.

The tower used to have ten bells although the pub opposite was called The Six Bells. In 1921 the church became a Pro-Cathedral and a full Cathedral in October 1930.

In the photo the tram lines bear around to the left but originally they went to the right of the church. The house behind the church wall was removed many years ago.

There was a beautiful, tiled, public drinking fountain outside the lich gate, this fountain fell into disrepair and was then removed and rebuilt outside the gates of Belle Vue Park. Opposite the church on the right hand side was Newport’s first Workhouse.

When this became too small, a new Workhouse was built which lasted into the 1940’s before becoming St Woolos Hospital.

Dave Woolven, Newport

Today shows the area around St Woolos Cathedral. Except for the front of the building’s wall nothing much has changed, The old picture shows a large house within the grounds, demolished many years ago. Additionally, a new front entrance with lychgate is added in the new snap.

Of course, the trams rails have long gone, but the buildings to the right are still pretty much the same.

Jim Dyer, Newport