Lost Isle of Wight buildings and businesses of Newport

When one looks around Newport, they’ll find evidence of lost buildings and long-gone commercial buildings.

Some have been demolished, some abandoned, and others have undergone changes of use.

Many Newport pubs have disappeared – two noticeable ones being The Freemasons Tavern, so named on account of its proximity to the Freemasons building in Lugley Street, and The Sun Inn.

The Bugle Tap, halfway along Lugley Street, used to be the tap bar to the main Bugle Hotel on the High Street, and is another lost pub which has undergone change.

Staying still on the same street, The old Newport Grammar School, built around 1614, had a venerable history.

King Charles I is said to have stayed there, and it was where the failed Treaty of Newport was signed.

In the 1950s, it changed its name to the King James I Grammar School, sporting its distinctive blazer colours of black and white piping.

It operated as a school right up until 1969.

Today, this proud, historical building – one of the oldest in Newport – languishes in a sorry looking way.

In Mill Street, a derelict crumbling building can be found.

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This is the site of an early provincial bank, and on closer examination, remnants of the old provincial bank sign can be seen.

This building has lain dormant for countless years, waiting for what, one may ask?

Perhaps it may be a listed building, and an unsympathetic developer is waiting for its eventual demise, so they might replace it with a modern block of utility designed flats.

Next, we move to Quay Street, where you will find a grand town house.

It is empty, and hasn’t been lived in for nearly a century, though it appears to be in a reasonable condition.

It raises the question of why it has been empty for so long, and who the last people to occupy it were.

Finally, looking to the rear of Boots, on Lugley Street, it is evident by its design that this part of the building was once some kind of entertainment establishment.

In fact, many years ago, this used to be the Queen’s Hall – one of the town’s leading dance halls.

When inside of the shop, looking up at the rear of the building, the old balcony that once looked out over the dance floor can be seen.

Taking a casual stroll around town, much of the Newport of old may still be recognised.

Many brash new buildings have sprung up, but the quaintness of the old ones still has a presence.