Newnham
Newnham or Newnham on Severn is a town in west Gloucestershire, England. It depends on the Royal Forest of Dean, on the west bank of the River Severn, about 10 miles south-west of Gloucester and three miles southeast of Cinderford. It is on the A48 road in between Gloucester and Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales. The village has a parish council. A parish church was established in the 14th century (although there had actually been a chapel of ease since 1018), and also in 1366 a new church building was built on the high ground of the town as the old one dealt with erosion from the river. The new structure has itself been damaged by a gunpowder explosion in 1644 during the English Civil War as well as a fire in 1881, however is still being used. Because of Newnham's place on the Severn, the Ancient Romans developed three roads with the place, where they forded the river. The Anglo-Saxons developed a permanent settlement, the Normans constructed a motte-and-bailey stronghold for defence, and in medieval times it ended up being a major port with web links around Great Britain as well as Ireland. In 1171, Henry II of England staged an invasion of Ireland from Newnham. One account claimed that he set out with 400 ships and 5,000 guys, which recommends its value as a port. Temporarily Newnham was the most effective Gloucestershire community west of the Severn. Its function as a port and trading hub declined, nevertheless, swiftly with the 1827 opening of the Gloucester as well as Sharpness Canal. In 1810, an early effort at a Severn tunnel started construction simply south of Newnham. Work was deserted after flooding in 1812. The civil parish becomes part of Newnham as well as Westbury selecting ward. This ward starts in the north at Westbury-on-Severn and afterwards follows the River Severn to Newnham. The complete population of the ward taken at the 2011 census was 3,088.