History of Commercial Street and the Wildings Department store

165 Commercial Street in Newport was formally known as the Wildings Department Store, has been disused since 2019.

Commercial Street was originally laid out in the early 19th century to connect the docks with the historic city centre. The first existence of the Wildings company was built in 1874 in Newport, Shropshire by Alfred Wilding, but the one in Newport, Wales was built in 1886 by architects Habershon & Fawckner. The grade II listed building was built to be a double shop front where it was referred to as number ‘165’, while the middle building was named number ‘166-167’ and the right building was named ‘168’. Each shop sold their own products.

The shop sold mantles, costumes, dressers, boots and shoes. What made this shop different from the others was the large plated-glass windows, with decorative overlights, low stall riser and two recessed doorways. These features gave the Number 165 shop a more bold look compared to the other shops adjacent. It seemed unlikely that all the floors for the building were used for retail use, therefore it is possible that the upper floors and attic were for administrative and/or residential use.

The Wildings’ business contracted in the twenty-first century and the store on Commercial Street was one of the last department stores to remain in business until it closed in 2019.

Engraving published of the London House, 1893, the leftsided building

Wyledene House, 1930s

This photograph was taken around the 1930s that shows when Wildings renamed the building to the ‘Wyledene House’. The remodelling of the ground and first floor is the obvious alteration from the original build. The two other premises (166-168) that formed part of London House were demolished after a fire c1964 and rebuilt in a modern style.