5 Surprising facts about Rogerstone

A quick history lesson on Rogerstone will tell you that it was named after the Rogerstone Castle, which was built in the 12^th century, and was named after Roger de Haia, the Norman Lord who built the castle. Fast forward to the 21^st century and the remains of the castle have been reduced to a low bush and tree covered motte, but all is not lost, Rogerstone has flourished and become an affluent area of Newport made up of predominately detached and semi-detached homes. Putting property aside for a moment, we have uncovered five facts about Rogerstone that even the locals may not know.Hidden TreasuresDon’t be mistaken, Rogerstone may be a small area on the outskirts of Newport but it’s still home to some hidden treasures, such as the Monmouthshire Canal which runs through Newport and beyond. The Fourteen Locks Canal Centre perfectly describes it as, “An idyllic place where time stands still and history overwhelms.” With support from the Heritage Lottery Funding two pairs of locks have been restored, and the Canal Centre and Café has become a popular place for families and a welcome rest point for keen walkers.Commuter-friendlyAs we already mentioned, Rogerstone sits on the outskirts of Newport but it still has excellent transport links to Newport city centre, Cardiff, and Bristol. The area actually has two train stations, Rogerstone and Pye Corner, which both have lines that run to Cardiff. Since opening in 2014 the station in Pye Corner runs an hourly service between Cardiff and Ebbw Vale Town. For those of you who commute to Cardiff it’s just 14 miles down the road, with Newport just over 3 miles away and Bristol 35 miles. A number of regular buses are also available into Newport city centre.Surprising NightlifeYou might expect to have to travel to nearby Newport or Cardiff to enjoy a night out or evening meal, but the area actually has several pubs, bars and restaurants. Rogerstone is also home to the award-winning Welsh brewery Tiny Rebel, which tells a lovely story of two local lads who started a bespoke brewery in their dad’s garage and have gone on to win several awards, including the youngest and only Welsh brewery to win Champion Beer of Britain. They now have three bars open in Cardiff, Newport centre, and their hometown of Rogerstone where they serve, you’ve guessed it, their own homemade beers!Evolving EducationRogerstone continues to attract families due to its selection of primary schools, and many move to the area to ensure that their child gets a place at Bassaleg High School, known as one of the top schools in Newport. Catchment plays a big role in whether your child can attend the school, and with education being a high priority for many of our buyers, this has made the area highly competitive. Local primary schools include Rogerstone Primary, High Cross Primary, newly opened Jubilee Park Primary, and Mount Pleasant Primary, which made the papers in 2014 when Barack Obama famously paid it a visit.Future DevelopmentsIt’s not just new houses and schools that are popping up in Rogerstone, the former Avana Bakeries site is set to be transformed into a major new business park. The large nine-acre site has recently been bought by Cardiff-based property firm Rombourne, who plan to build a new 200,000 square foot business park which will create hundreds of jobs in the area.Are you new to the area? We hope our five facts have opened your eyes to life in Rogerstone, or perhaps you are lucky enough to already live here and have learned some interesting things about your home town. If you have property to sell in Rogerstone please call our team on 01633 870777 - we’re always happy to help!