Newport Docks is the collective name for a series of docks in the city of Newport, south-east Wales.BackgroundNewport was a small fishing port and market town until the coming of the industrial age at the beginning of the 19th century. The Monmouthshire Canal, opened around 1800, was used to bring down coal from the coal mining operations and iron from ironworks in the South Wales valleys for shipment abroad and around the UK, and soon Newport's docks were doing more business than almost any other port in the United Kingdom.History of the Old Town DocksIn the early decades of the 19th century, Newport's maritime trade was served by wharves along the River Usk, a tributary of the River Severn estuary. These waters exhibit the second highest tidal reach in the world and improved facilities became needed, particularly for larger American vessels which risked damage when beached at the wharves at low tide. The expansion of trade caused by the development of the canal system had led to rapid growth of coal and iron exports from Newport's hinterland. If the town were to continue to prosper and compete with the growing port of Cardiff a floating dock protected by lock gates needed to be constructed.In March 1835, a public meeting was held at the King's Head Inn and plans for a floating dock were agreed. A committee was appointed to devise a Bill to be put before Parliament. In July the Newport Dock Act was given Royal Assent for construction work to commence.
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