Digital agency unveils refurbished offices

Digital agency Ascendancy has officially opened its newly-refurbished offices - with the new Newport Mayor cutting the ribbon on his first official engagement.

Mayor Ian Perry joined Ascendancy founder Helen Culshaw along with her team and clients, suppliers and local guests to see inside the company base at Chetwynd End - a historic home that dates back to medieval times.

Director Helen said: “It has been such an interesting and fantastic journey and we have been wanting to welcome clients, suppliers and work friends to the new office since the completion of the project in 2020 - however, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns and restrictions made an official launch a little difficult.

“It was fantastic to finally open our doors and welcome people in to see what we have created and meet the team - and the weather was kind enough for us to even enjoy some games in the garden."

A huge renovation and conversion project was undertaken to prepare the building for the Ascendancy team and the history of the building and many treasures  were revealed.

Research by Helen and the Newport History Society led to the belief that the home was part of a burgage plot, a property owned by a burgess in a medieval town.

The History Society also dug some test pits in the garden and found some pieces of medieval pot among many more modern finds and guests had the chance to see them at the open event.

Mayor Ian Perry said: “It was fantastic to spend my first engagement as Mayor visiting a local business. The history behind Chetwynd End has always been of great interest to me and it was wonderful to view the maps, deeds, correspondence and even hidden treasures that Helen and the team put together for us.”