Constructed after the Government passed the Metropolitian Burial Act in 1850, passed to ensure that public cemeteries were laid out, bodies buried in a dignified fashion and burials recorded. Site purchased by the Newport Burial Committee from Lord Tredegar in February 1854, with the first burial taking place on 18th July of that year, making it the first public cemetery in Wales.

The competeition to design the lodge and gates, together with the Nonconformist and Anglican Chapels was won by Johnson and Purdue, architects of London, and these buildings were completed by November 1855. the use of conrasting styles for these two chapels is unusal amoung early cemeteries, reflecting the strength of nonconformity in Newport at the time.

By 1855 the Roman Catholics, with difficulty, gained their own area on the north side of the cemetery but did not build theor own chapel until c.1880. By this date the cemetery had extended to the south-west and there was also a small seperate burial ground immediately to the north of the cemetery. It was further extended in the 20th century.
(CADW listing description) S Fileding 18/04/05