100 years ago

LONDON House store announced the opening of its war employment workroom and staff were required to commence work immediately on the provision of shirts, scarves, etc, as gifts for the troops on garrison duty.

The body of a young woman believed to be belonging to the unfortunate class, was found lying in Nant Coch wood. She had no papers as means of identification and as yet there was no clue as to the mystery of her death.

Recruits were needed to bring the Home Service Battalion, Monmouth Regiment up to its full establishment .

It was decided at the meeting of Newport Corporation Finance Committee to recommend that the salary of the borough controller should be increased from £250 to £400 per annum.

50 years ago

Archaeologists at work on a dig within the ancient walls of the Roman fortress at Caerleon have unearthed what they believe is a Roman bath house.

Mining subsidence was causing delay to Abertillery council’s housing programme and two major developments at Brynithel and Roseheyworth were to be held up for at least two years.

For the first time in the history of the division a tape machine was used to record proceedings at Tredegar magistrates court.

Forty members of Chepstow council paid a visit to one of their newest acquisitions, Caldicot castle, which they had purchased for £12,000.

25 years ago

A controversial referendum to call time on Sunday drinking looked set to go ahead in Newport, while pub landlords backed a controversial bid by Gwent police to introduce a penalty point scheme for landlords.

BT were accused of a cover up by a Gwent man furious with the company’s response to his complaints about a 999 call mix up, after his call was misdirected.

Forty houses were evacuated and the bomb squad called to Kenilworth Road, Maindee, where police feared a resident may have been targeted.

Six families were turned on to the streets after fire officers shut down a bedsit block on Chepstow Road, Newport as a potential fire trap. It was understood that the risks came from the central heating system.