The hamlet lies on conglomerate sedimentary bedrock, specifically Mercia Mudstone Group marginal facies, formed between 252.2 and 201.3 million years ago in the Triassic period.

In the area it lies by other types of mudstone from the same Group; all are common to the region down to the River Severn, typically reddish or yellowish and underlie Mathern, Pwllmeyric to the north and much of the Bulwark part of Chepstow to the east.

[11][12] In 1894, the crops of the area were listed as being divided between grass and corn (Mathern Mill was a corn mill),[8] with two principal landowners: Charles Lewis, lord of the manor, deputy lieutenant and justice of the peace[13] resident at St. Pierre and Rev.

Robert Vaughan Hughes, resident of the Wyelands estate (which remained in his family through the 20th century) that lies past the old quarry and Rose Cottages on the east of Newton Green.

[33] The member of parliament for the area is Catherine Fookes of the Labour Party, representing the Monmouthshire constituency as of 2024.