Defence against Scottish incursions across the Solway was a concern of the Lord and Steward of Holm Cultram when planning the new settlement.

[4] Residents of Newtown in this era would have been expected to take part in the "seawake", a night watch to guard the Solway coast against Scottish raids.

His diaries recorded farming life on the Solway Plain in the 19th century, and have given local historians a great deal of information about Newtown and surrounding communities during that period.

There is a pub, the Lowther, in Mawbray,[8] but perhaps the closest attraction to Newtown is a farm park and tea room called the Gincase.

[10][11] Newtown is situated very near to the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which encompasses much of the shoreline to the west of the hamlet.