Medieval Rhos Vair

In medieval Gwynedd, Rhosyr was the royal demesne (Welsh: maerdref) and seat of governance for the commote of Menai.^[1][2] The location was a residence for the Princes of Gwynedd. There is a ruined court building of Llys Rhosyr (Rhosyr court) lying on the outskirts of the present village, the royal court (Welsh: llys brenhinol) dates from 1237 and was in use for less than a century. The building was the inspiration and model for the reconstruction of a court at St. Fagans Museum, Cardiff.^[3][4]

Newborough gained its current name when the town was founded by citizens of Llanfaes in eastern Anglesey, they were evicted by Edward I in 1294 to promote his new port of Beaumaris. It was established as a "new borough", and gained its charter in 1303. Before the changes, the town was called Rhôs Vair. The charter was renewed by successive Kings between the 14th to 19th centuries, and the borough produced the role of a Burgess, the individual was given privileges from the Crown and would negotiate the Royal charter with the King of England in his parliament. Around 1489, in the reign of Henry VII of England, the county of Anglesey's court sessions (assizes) was moved to the town after 250 years in Beaumaris Castle, thus giving Newborough a member of parliament and making it the county town of Anglesey. Then in 1550, the main court of Anglesey and all related county business was returned to Beaumaris.^[3][4]

Modern Newborough

Newborough's warren was home to a thriving marram grass industry; this grass was used to produce matting, nets, and rope.^[1][4] In 1814, Newborough's status as a Royal chartered borough of King George III was abolished after the resignation of the town mayor. The ending of the town's charter affected the people negatively and forced the closure of common land for grazing animals, and the town fell into a state of "severe deprivation", and the land was taken by the crown. The neighbouring town of Llanddwyn was incorporated into Newborough.^[4]

A famous resident was John Morgan, a blind musician who played the crwth in the village.^[4]

Today, the village gives its name to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Newborough of the Welsh Wynn family.^[4]

In 2019, the village opened a new Welsh-speaking primary school, Ysgol Santes Dwynwen.^[5]

The village is in the Bro Aberffraw electoral ward on Anglesey, the area represents the south-west of the island.^[6]

Church

In the village is St Peter's Church. The place of worship dates from the 14th century, with additions in the 15th and 16th centuries. The building was restored in 1850 and extended in 1886.^[7]

Prichard Jones institute

Pritchard-Jones institute, built 1905 in Newborough

The Prichard Jones Institute was built in 1902–1905. ("Institute" is a common Welsh term for a community hall: y stiwt.) The Neo-Tudor institute with a clock tower was designed by Roland Lloyd Jones and completed for £20,000 (equivalent to £2,200,000 in 2019).^[1][8] The Institute appeared on the BBC2 programme, Restoration, in 2006. There are six single-storey cottage homes attached to the institute; they were gifted to the village by Sir John Prichard-Jones, after whom the building was named; he was born in Newborough. Sir John served as an apprentice draper in Caernarfon, then moved to London to work at Dickins, Smith and Stevens.^[1][9] Pritchard-Jones was eventually appointed as chairman of the Dickins & Jones department store in London, to which he gave his name.^[10]

Recreation

The village and its environs provide walking opportunities for visitors, including at Newborough Warren, one of the largest areas of dunes in the British Isles, and Newborough Forest, a 2,000-acre (800 ha) woodland. Much of the area around Newborough is a nature reserve, popular with those interested in geology, botany, birds, and other wildlife.^[1][11][12]

There is a large sandy Blue Flag beach at Llanddwyn, which provides access to Ynys Llanddwyn. On the island are the ruins of a church which is said to have been dedicated to the Welsh Saint Dwynwen in the year 465. She was the patron of the Welsh Valentines Day (Welsh: Dydd Santes Dwynwen). The church was built in the 16th century on a mile-long promontory on the beach.^[4][1][13] The beach is also a popular kitesurfing location.^[14]

Just outside the village is Tacla Taid ("Grandpa's stuff"), the Anglesey Transport and Agriculture Museum, the largest of its kind in Wales.^[15]

Demographics

The village of Newborough is in the community (and former electoral ward) of Rhosyr, which had a population of 2,169 in 2001,^[16] increasing to 2,226 at the 2011 census.^[17]

Historically the population of the village grew from 599 in 1801 to 934 in 1971. By 1831, there were 187 males over 20 years old; of these, 62 were farmworkers.^[18] In 2011, the village had a population of 892 of whom 68% were born in Wales.^[19] As of the 2021 census, Newborough has a population of 839.^[20]