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Newtown today is a quiet and rarely visited corner of the Isle of Wight.
It was created as a new town in the medieval period, but despite being granted Parliamentary representation by Elizabeth I in 1584, it never thrived and fell into decline.
It continued to be represented by two Members of Parliament until 1832, when the great Reform Act abolished the "rotten boroughs".
The main reason visitors go to Newton these days is for the Old Town Hall. It was built in around 1699, fell into disuse after the town lost its MPs, and gradually fell into ruin. Then in 1933 it was rescued and given to the National Trust by a mysterious group of posh young women known as Ferguson's Gang.
For opening times, admission prices, etc. please see the National Trust's official site.
A short walk away, and well worth a visit, is Newton Quay; a wonderfully peaceful spot.
This was built to service the town and the nearby salt pans.
The two feeder ponds can still be seen. These trapped water at high tide which was then fed into the saltpans.
The salt industry came to an end in the 1930s due to competition from Cheshire and elsewhere.