Last week we featured a picture of High Street, Newport, looking towards Station Approach. The photo shows thousands of people turning up for the Queens visit to Newport in 1953.

THIS is Newport’s High Street. There was some dignitary or official due as the royal navy are lining the street with fixed bayonets. There is a zebra crossing in the distance, I think these came in long after Montgomery’s visit. Did the Queen come down High Street after the Coronation in 1953 on her way to Cardiff?

In the distance is the General Post Office, now long since gone. On the right was the Argus office and printing works, then Martin’s Bank, the 35 shilling tailors and Montague Burton. Across Market Street was the South Wales Electricity showroom with it’s double ended mirrors whereby small boys could see reflections of themselves. Further down was Hills & Steele’s Great Universal Stores.

Across Griffin Street was Cecil’s drapery store with its overhead wire cash system which took cash from the counters to a central cash booth. On the left hand side were the well known names of yesteryear - National Provincial Bank, WA Smith, Weaver to Wearer, Baker & Manhire, Maypole Dairy, EG Taylor, Kimpton, Crouch the jeweller, Lovell’s Lounge café, Dunn’s, Greyhound and Tredegar Arms Hotels and Lloyd’s Bank. Most now but distant memories.

Dave Woolven, Newport THE Now and Then is of High Street where Specsavers used to be. Also The Murenger House on the corner used to be the Tredegar Arms. Opposite was the South Wales Argus offices which moved to Maesglas and Station Approach which can be seen. The Kings Head was there but closed.

M Reardon, Newport