LAST week we featured a picture of Newport market, Dock Street, from across the River Usk.

There was a market here in the mid 1800s but the present grand building was built in 1888 in the Renaissance-style and cost more than £42,000.

The market had provision for more than 150 stalls. Sadly the market is but a shadow of its former self, the upper gallery is empty following a misguided revamp. Before the revamp, the gallery was a hive of activity.

Downstairs there are many empty stalls, many traders who have been there for generations have gone or are likely to go.

On the right-hand side of the Dock Street entrance was AA Wright, the fruit and vegetable wholesalers.

As a schoolboy doing a carrier bike delivery job, I used to go there for 1cwt (50kg) sacks of spuds which balanced on the front of an old bike wasn’t very funny. The High Street entrance to the market was rebuilt in 1934.

Dave Woolven, Newport

THE Now and Then is of Kingsway where The Wave is. Facing Newport Bridge, you can see the castle. Also you can see the market in Dock Street.

The bus stop is there and some buses have moved to Friar’s Walk. Also Lovells Cafe is there and a fish and chip shop.

Also there is Capital Taxi’s and a hair dressers which was once Harry Wheelers.

There was also potato/vegetable merchants and also in view is the old college which has turned into flats.

M Reardon, Newport