Parts of the harbour had fallen into disrepair, and boats were beached and loaded direct from carts brought onto the foreshore.

[2] It was recognised that improvements were needed for the sake of the prosperity of the town and the export of iron ore from ironstone mines in the Brendon Hills to Newport and thence to Ebbw Vale for smelting.

The design by Isambard Kingdom Brunel was rejected in favour of one by James Abernethy.

[7] The cast iron lighthouse is approximately 22 feet (6.7 m)[8] in height and has a red hexagonal tower with white lantern, and green lens.

Instead it displays a fixed green luminaire marking the starboard (right hand side) approach to the marina.