Caerleon
Encyclopedia
Caerleon is a suburban village and community
, situated on the River Usk
in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport
, South Wales
. Caerleon is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman
legionary fortress
, Isca Augusta
, and an Iron Age
hill fort
. The Wales National Roman Legion Museum
and Roman Baths Museum
are in Caerleon close to the remains of Isca Augusta. Caerleon also has strong literary associations, as Geoffrey of Monmouth
makes Caerleon one of the most important cities in Britain in his Historia Regum Britanniæ, and Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote Idylls of the King
while staying in Caerleon.
Caerleon is a site of considerable archaeological importance, being the location of a Roman
legionary fortress or Castra
(it was the headquarters for Legio II Augusta
from about 75 to 300 AD) and an Iron Age
hill fort
. The name Caerleon is derived from the Welsh
for "fortress of the legion
"; the Romans
themselves called it Isca which itself comes from the Welsh name for the river: "Wysg". Substantial excavated Roman remains can be seen, including the military amphitheatre
, thermae
(baths) and barracks occupied by the Roman Legion
. In August 2011 it was announced that the remains of a Roman harbour had been discovered in Caerleon.
According to Gildas
(followed by Bede
), Roman Caerleon was the site of two early Christian martyrdoms, those of Julius and Aaron
. Recent finds suggest Roman occupation of some kind as late as AD 380. Roman remains have also been discovered at The Mynde, itself a distinctive historical site.
, after the Romans had left Britain, Caerleon or nearby Venta Silurum
(now Caerwent
) was the administrative centre of the Kingdom of Gwent. The parish church
of St Cadoc
was founded on the site of the legionary headquarters building probably sometime in the 6th century. A Norman
-style motte and bailey castle
was built outside the eastern corner of the old Roman fort, probably by the Welsh Lord of Caerleon, Caradog ap Gruffydd
. It was held in 1086 by Turstin FitzRolf
, standard bearer to William the Conqueror at Hastings. From the apparent banishment of Turstin by William II, it was held from 1088 by Wynebald de Ballon
, brother of Hamelin de Ballon who held Abergavenny
further up the Usk. Battles raged between the Welsh and Normans and in 1171 Iorwerth ab Owain and his two sons destroyed the town of Caerleon and burned the Castle. Caerleon was an important market and port and presumably became a borough
by 1171, although no independent charters exist. Both castle and borough were seized by William Marshal in 1217 and Caerleon castle was rebuilt in stone. The remains of many of the old Roman buildings stood to some height until this time and were probably demolished for their building materials.
in 1402 Rhys Gethin
, General for Owain Glyndŵr
, took Caerleon Castle together with those of Newport, Cardiff, Llandaff, Abergavenny, Caerphilly and Usk by force. This was probably the last time Caerleon castle was ruined, though the walls were still standing in 1537 and the castle ruins only finally collapsed in 1739 - their most obvious remnant is the Round Tower at the Hanbury Arms public house.
from Caerleon, in the region of Penrhos Farm, are two English Civil War
forts. In 1648 Oliver Cromwell
's troops camped overnight on Christchurch Hill, overlooking Newport, before their attack on Newport Castle
the next day.
The old wooden Caerleon Bridge
was destroyed in a storm in 1779 and the present stone version was erected in the early 19th century. Until the Victorian
development of the downstream docks at Newport Docks
, Caerleon acted as the major port on the River Usk. The wharf was located on the right bank, to the west of today's river bridge which marked the limit of navigability for masted ships. A tinplate works was established on the outskirts of the town around this time and Caerleon expanded to become almost joined to Newport.
The name of the Drovers' Arms on Goldcroft Common bears witness to the ancient drovers' road on the old road from Malpas
. It is thought that the common itself was once the site of a cattle market.
makes Caerleon one of the most important cities in Britain in his Historia Regum Britanniæ. He gives it a long, glorious history from its foundation by King Belinus
to becoming the location of a metropolitan see, an Archbishopric, superior to Canterbury
and York
, under Saint Dubricius
. He was followed by St David who moved the archbishopric to St David's Cathedral
. This culminates in Geoffrey's making the town a court of King Arthur
.
There was no Camelot
mentioned in the early Arthurian account of Geoffrey of Monmouth
and his translators Wace
and Layamon
: "Camelot" originates with the French writer of courtly romance Chrétien de Troyes
. These earlier authors say that Arthur's capital was Caerleon (which Chretien also mentions), while even the later recaster of Arthurian material in English, Sir Thomas Malory
, has Arthur re-crowned at "Carlion". The still-visible Roman amphitheatre at Caerleon has been associated with Arthur's 'Round-Table
' element of the tales. and has been suggested as a possible source for the legend.
Geoffrey of Monmouth writes of Caerleon in the mid 12th century:
This is only a short part of a description that emphasises the power and wealth of Arthur's court. The huge scale of the ruins along with Caerleon's importance as a urban centre in early mediæval Kingdom of Gwent would have inspired stories which Geoffrey expanded.
Caerleon also has later Arthurian literary associations, as the birthplace of the writer Arthur Machen
who often used it as a location in his work. The Hanbury Arms was visited by the poet Tennyson
who lodged at the inn while he wrote his Morte d'Arthur (later incorporated into his Idylls of the King
). Today Caerleon has a modern statue of a knight
, "The Hanbury Knight", in reflecting inox
by Belgian sculptor Thierry Lauwers.
In Michael Morpurgo
's novel Arthur, High King of Britain, Caerleon is the castle where Arthur unknowingly commits incest
with his half-sister Margause, resulting in the conception of his son Mordred
who will later bring about his downfall.
. Goldcroft Common is the only remaining of the seven commons of Caerleon. Most of the small businesses of Caerleon are near the common as is the Tourist Information Office and Town Hall which has a World War I
and World War II
memorial garden. The intersection of High Street and Cross Street is known as The Square.
Buildings of note are Saint Cadoc's Church
, the National Roman Legion Museum
, the Roman Baths Museum
, The Mynde, The Priory Hotel, Caerleon Catholic Church
and Rectory, Caerleon Endowed School
, the Round Tower, the Toll House at Caerleon Bridge
, The Malt House hotel, University of Wales, Newport
Caerleon Campus and St Cadoc's Hospital
. The historic remains of the Roman Legionary Fortress Isca Augusta
is popular with tourists and school parties and there is a marked heritage trail in the village. The Millennium Wildlife Garden is a small nature garden on the banks of the River Usk. The hilltop vantage point at Christchurch provides panoramic views of the Vale of Usk and Bristol Channel
.
The municipal playing fields are at Caerleon Broadway and a good quality children's playground is in Cold Bath Road. Private sport and leisure facilities are available at the Celtic Manor and the University of Wales, Newport
Caerleon Campus. Caerleon library is located in the grounds of Caerleon Comprehensive School. Caerleon has a few restaurants, cafés and take-away food outlets and many public houses that have restaurant facilities. The Ffwrrwm is a small specialist shopping courtyard with an eclectic display of sculpture. Caerleon also has its own station of Gwent Police
and an active community policing presence.
. Caerleon is within the UK Parliamentary consituency
of Newport West
, the National Assembly for Wales
constituency of Newport West
and the Wales European Parliament Constituency
.
forms part of the community's southern boundary. In the north-west part of the village, across the railway bridges, the land rises sharply up to Lodge Wood and its hill fort
. The community's western boundary is formed by the A4042 road
(Heidenheim Drive) and the northern boundary partly by the Malthouse Road and partly by the Afon Llwyd
river which flows southwards to the River Usk along the village's eastern side. Across the River Usk from Caerleon, to the south-east and east, St Julian's Park, the village of Christchurch and the upland region around Christchurch Hill as far as the M4 motorway
and the A449 road
are also within the community.
and 5½ miles from Cwmbran
. Caerleon is 2 miles north of the M4 motorway
.
Caerleon is accessed via Junction 25 (Caerleon Road) for westbound M4 traffic. There is no M4 Junction 25 exit for eastbound M4 traffic so for eastbound traffic Caerleon is accessed via M4 Junction 26, then A4051 (Malpas Road) and A4042 (Heidenheim Drive) to the Junction 25A offslip.
An alternative route to Caerleon is M4 Junction 24 (Coldra), B4237 (Chepstow Road), then B4236 (Royal Oak Hill/Belmont Hill) over Christchurch.
Conversely, traffic joining the M4 from Caerleon can join the M4 eastbound at Junction 25 but to join the M4 westbound traffic must follow the Junction 25A offslip, Heidenheim Drive, Malpas Road route to M4 Junction 26. Alternatively, traffic can join the M4 both eastbound and westbound at Junction 24.
The B4596 (Caerleon Road) links Newport city centre to Caerleon via M4 Junction 25, crossing Caerleon Bridge
into Caerleon High Street. The B4236 (Ponthir Road) links Caerleon to Cwmbran. The Usk Road links Caerleon to Usk
.
The centre of Caerleon (High Street, Mill Street and Castle Street) is a one-way traffic system and there are car parks at Broadway and Cold Bath Road. A regular bus service links Newport city centre to Caerleon and there is a limited City Sightseeing
open-top bus service in summer months. A cycle and pedestrian walkway alongside the River Usk links Caerleon to Malpas
and Newport city centre
at Crindau
. Trains do not stop at Caerleon railway station
, the nearest passenger stations are Newport railway station
, Cwmbran railway station
and Rogerstone railway station
. The nearest airport is Cardiff Airport (30 miles/48 km).
is located in Caerleon including student accommodation blocks. The secondary school
is Caerleon Comprehensive
. The primary schools are Caerleon Endowed Infants and Juniors
and Caerleon Lodge Hill Infants and Juniors.
Education is generally conducted in the English language
in schools but at least a mandatory Welsh language
content must be provided under the Welsh education curriculum. There are no Welsh-medium education
schools in Caerleon but there are two primary schools elsewhere in Newport; Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd in Hartridge
and Ysgol Gymraeg Ifor Hael in Bettws
. The nearest Welsh-medium secondary school is Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw
in Trevethin
, Pontypool
.
and Cwmbran has also increased traffic congestion in Caerleon.
, location of the 2010 Ryder Cup
. Caerleon also has a good quality 9-hole municipal golf course, driving range
and golf clubhouse. However, during winter months the golf course is prone to flooding due to its location alongside the River Usk.
The association football club Caerleon A.F.C.
is based in Caerleon along with two rugby union
clubs; Newport High School Old Boys RFC and Caerleon RFC whose grounds are less than a mile apart and who are known for their fierce rivalry.
Caerleon Bowls
Club has a good quality outdoor green. Caerleon has one chapter of the Academy of Historical Fencing
, a western martial arts group who study and practise fencing with the weapons and styles of medieval and renaissance
Europe. The club trains on the University Campus and also has two Chapters in Bristol
.
in July each year since 2002, which includes tree sculptors
from around the world. Many of the sizeable sculptures are retained around Caerleon as a Sculpture park and local landmarks. The arts festival coincides with the Roman military re-enactment in the amphitheatre which demonstrates Roman military armour, infantry tactics
, cavalry tactics, equipment and siege engine
s such as ballista
e.
Live music events and Visual arts
are staged at venues including the open-air Roman Amphitheatre, which hosts plays in the summer.
An informative and wide ranging history of Caerleon was published in 1970 by local amateur historian Primrose Hockey MBE
, who was a founder member of Caerleon Local History Society. An archive of her local history collection is kept by the Gwent Record Office.
St Cadoc's Hospital
in Caerleon has been featured as a location of episodes in the BBC
television programmes Doctor Who
and Being Human
.
Community (Wales)
A community is a division of land in Wales that forms the lowest-tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England....
, situated on the River Usk
River Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. Caerleon is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
legionary fortress
Castra
The Latin word castra, with its singular castrum, was used by the ancient Romans to mean buildings or plots of land reserved to or constructed for use as a military defensive position. The word appears in both Oscan and Umbrian as well as in Latin. It may have descended from Indo-European to Italic...
, Isca Augusta
Isca Augusta
Isca Augusta was a Roman legionary fortress and settlement, the remains of which lie beneath parts of the present-day village of Caerleon on the northern outskirts of the city of Newport in South Wales.-Name:...
, and an Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
hill fort
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
. The Wales National Roman Legion Museum
National Roman Legion Museum
The National Roman Legion Museum is one of the National Museums of Wales. It is located in Caerleon in the city of Newport, south-east Wales .-Background and History:...
and Roman Baths Museum
Roman Baths Museum
The Roman Baths Museum is located in Caerleon in the city of Newport, south-east Wales.-Background and history:Roman Wales was the farthest point west that the Roman Empire in Roman Britain extended to, and as a defence point the fortress at Caerleon, built in 75 AD, was one of only three permanent...
are in Caerleon close to the remains of Isca Augusta. Caerleon also has strong literary associations, as Geoffrey of Monmouth
Geoffrey of Monmouth
Geoffrey of Monmouth was a cleric and one of the major figures in the development of British historiography and the popularity of tales of King Arthur...
makes Caerleon one of the most important cities in Britain in his Historia Regum Britanniæ, and Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote Idylls of the King
Idylls of the King
Idylls of the King, published between 1856 and 1885, is a cycle of twelve narrative poems by the English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson which retells the legend of King Arthur, his knights, his love for Guinevere and her tragic betrayal of him, and the rise and fall of Arthur's kingdom...
while staying in Caerleon.
Roman fortress
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
legionary fortress or Castra
Castra
The Latin word castra, with its singular castrum, was used by the ancient Romans to mean buildings or plots of land reserved to or constructed for use as a military defensive position. The word appears in both Oscan and Umbrian as well as in Latin. It may have descended from Indo-European to Italic...
(it was the headquarters for Legio II Augusta
Legio II Augusta
Legio secunda Augusta , was a Roman legion, levied by Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus in 43 BC, and still operative in Britannia in the 4th century...
from about 75 to 300 AD) and an Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
hill fort
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
. The name Caerleon is derived from the Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
for "fortress of the legion
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
"; the Romans
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
themselves called it Isca which itself comes from the Welsh name for the river: "Wysg". Substantial excavated Roman remains can be seen, including the military amphitheatre
Amphitheatre
An amphitheatre is an open-air venue used for entertainment and performances.There are two similar, but distinct, types of structure for which the word "amphitheatre" is used: Ancient Roman amphitheatres were large central performance spaces surrounded by ascending seating, and were commonly used...
, thermae
Thermae
In ancient Rome, thermae and balnea were facilities for bathing...
(baths) and barracks occupied by the Roman Legion
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
. In August 2011 it was announced that the remains of a Roman harbour had been discovered in Caerleon.
According to Gildas
Gildas
Gildas was a 6th-century British cleric. He is one of the best-documented figures of the Christian church in the British Isles during this period. His renowned learning and literary style earned him the designation Gildas Sapiens...
(followed by Bede
Bede
Bede , also referred to as Saint Bede or the Venerable Bede , was a monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Monkwearmouth, today part of Sunderland, England, and of its companion monastery, Saint Paul's, in modern Jarrow , both in the Kingdom of Northumbria...
), Roman Caerleon was the site of two early Christian martyrdoms, those of Julius and Aaron
Julius and Aaron
Saints Julius and Aaron are celebrated as two British martyrs who died during the religious persecutions of the Emperor Diocletian in AD 304. Their feast day was traditionally celebrated on July 1....
. Recent finds suggest Roman occupation of some kind as late as AD 380. Roman remains have also been discovered at The Mynde, itself a distinctive historical site.
Middle Ages
During the Middle AgesMiddle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
, after the Romans had left Britain, Caerleon or nearby Venta Silurum
Venta Silurum
Venta Silurum was a town in the Roman province of Britannia or Britain. Today it consists of remains in the village of Caerwent in Monmouthshire, south east Wales. Much of it has been archaeologically excavated and is on display to the public....
(now Caerwent
Caerwent
Caerwent is a village and community in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located about five miles west of Chepstow and eleven miles east of Newport, and was founded by the Romans as the market town of Venta Silurum, an important settlement of the Brythonic Silures tribe. The modern village is built...
) was the administrative centre of the Kingdom of Gwent. The parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of St Cadoc
Cadoc
Saint Cadoc , Abbot of Llancarfan, was one of the 6th century British Christian saints. His vita twice mentions King Arthur. The Abbey of Llancarfan, near Cowbridge in Glamorganshire, which he founded circa 518, became famous as a centre of learning...
was founded on the site of the legionary headquarters building probably sometime in the 6th century. A Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
-style motte and bailey castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
was built outside the eastern corner of the old Roman fort, probably by the Welsh Lord of Caerleon, Caradog ap Gruffydd
Caradog ap Gruffydd
Caradog ap Gruffydd was a Prince of Gwent in south-east Wales who made repeated attempts to gain power over all of southern Wales by seizing the Kingdom of Deheubarth.- Lineage :...
. It was held in 1086 by Turstin FitzRolf
Turstin FitzRolf
Turstin FitzRolf was a Norman magnate, one of the few "Proven Companions of William the Conqueror" who fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. As his name indicates, he was the son of a certain Rolf, synonymous with Rou and Rollo . His first name appears as Tosteins, Thurstan and other variants...
, standard bearer to William the Conqueror at Hastings. From the apparent banishment of Turstin by William II, it was held from 1088 by Wynebald de Ballon
Wynebald de Ballon
Wynebald de Ballon ,, was an early Norman magnate. He was a son of Drogo de Ballon and appeared in England accompanied by his brothers, Hamelin de Ballon, later created 1st Baron of Abergavenny, and Wynoc de Ballon, about whom little is recorded...
, brother of Hamelin de Ballon who held Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
further up the Usk. Battles raged between the Welsh and Normans and in 1171 Iorwerth ab Owain and his two sons destroyed the town of Caerleon and burned the Castle. Caerleon was an important market and port and presumably became a borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
by 1171, although no independent charters exist. Both castle and borough were seized by William Marshal in 1217 and Caerleon castle was rebuilt in stone. The remains of many of the old Roman buildings stood to some height until this time and were probably demolished for their building materials.
The Welsh Revolt
During the Welsh RevoltGlyndwr Rising
The Glyndŵr Rising, Welsh Revolt or Last War of Independence was an uprising of the Welsh, led by Owain Glyndŵr, against England. It was the last major manifestation of a Welsh independence movement before the incorporation of Wales into England by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542.- The Fall of...
in 1402 Rhys Gethin
Rhys Gethin
Rhys Gethin was a key figure in the revolt of Owain Glyndŵr. He was his standard bearer and a leading general. His name means "swarthy Rhys"....
, General for Owain Glyndŵr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
, took Caerleon Castle together with those of Newport, Cardiff, Llandaff, Abergavenny, Caerphilly and Usk by force. This was probably the last time Caerleon castle was ruined, though the walls were still standing in 1537 and the castle ruins only finally collapsed in 1739 - their most obvious remnant is the Round Tower at the Hanbury Arms public house.
English Civil War
Across the Afon LlwydAfon Llwyd
The Afon Lwyd is a small river in south Wales which flows from its source north of Blaenavon, through Abersychan, Pontypool and Cwmbran before flowing into the River Usk at Caerleon, which subsequently flows into the Bristol Channel in Newport. The name is Welsh, meaning "Grey River".Historically...
from Caerleon, in the region of Penrhos Farm, are two English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
forts. In 1648 Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
's troops camped overnight on Christchurch Hill, overlooking Newport, before their attack on Newport Castle
Newport Castle
Newport Castle is a castle ruin in the city of Newport, South Wales and is a Grade II* Listed building. It is the castle that gives Newport its original and real name in the Welsh language, Castell Newydd, shortened to Casnewydd...
the next day.
Modern period
Caerleon Bridge
Caerleon Bridge is a bridge crossing of the River Usk at Caerleon in the city of Newport, United Kingdom.The stone built bridge was opened in 1806 as a replacement for the previous wooden bridge, it carries the B4236 road from Caerleon-ultra-Pontem into Caerleon itself...
was destroyed in a storm in 1779 and the present stone version was erected in the early 19th century. Until the Victorian
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
development of the downstream docks at Newport Docks
Newport Docks
Newport Docks is the collective name for a series of docks in the city of Newport, South Wales.-Background:Newport was a small fishing port and market town until the coming of the industrial age at the beginning of the 19th century...
, Caerleon acted as the major port on the River Usk. The wharf was located on the right bank, to the west of today's river bridge which marked the limit of navigability for masted ships. A tinplate works was established on the outskirts of the town around this time and Caerleon expanded to become almost joined to Newport.
The name of the Drovers' Arms on Goldcroft Common bears witness to the ancient drovers' road on the old road from Malpas
Malpas, Newport
Malpas is an electoral district and coterminous community parish of the city of Newport, South Wales. The area is governed by the Newport City Council.- Boundaries :...
. It is thought that the common itself was once the site of a cattle market.
Legend of King Arthur
Geoffrey of MonmouthGeoffrey of Monmouth
Geoffrey of Monmouth was a cleric and one of the major figures in the development of British historiography and the popularity of tales of King Arthur...
makes Caerleon one of the most important cities in Britain in his Historia Regum Britanniæ. He gives it a long, glorious history from its foundation by King Belinus
Belinus
Belinus the Great was a legendary king of the Britons, as recounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth. He was the son of Dunvallo Molmutius and brother of Brennius. He was probably named after the ancient god Belenus.- Earning the crown :...
to becoming the location of a metropolitan see, an Archbishopric, superior to Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
and York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, under Saint Dubricius
Dubricius
Saint Dubricius was a 6th century Briton ecclesiastic venerated as a saint. He was the evangelist of Ergyng and much of South-East Wales.-Biography:Dubricius was the illegitimate son of Efrddyl, the daughter of King Peibio Clafrog of Ergyng...
. He was followed by St David who moved the archbishopric to St David's Cathedral
St David's Cathedral
St David's Cathedral is situated in St David's in the county of Pembrokeshire, on the most westerly point of Wales.-Early history:The monastic community was founded by Saint David, Abbot of Menevia, who died in AD589...
. This culminates in Geoffrey's making the town a court of King Arthur
King Arthur
King Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
.
There was no Camelot
Camelot
Camelot is a castle and court associated with the legendary King Arthur. Absent in the early Arthurian material, Camelot first appeared in 12th-century French romances and eventually came to be described as the fantastic capital of Arthur's realm and a symbol of the Arthurian world...
mentioned in the early Arthurian account of Geoffrey of Monmouth
Geoffrey of Monmouth
Geoffrey of Monmouth was a cleric and one of the major figures in the development of British historiography and the popularity of tales of King Arthur...
and his translators Wace
Wace
Wace was a Norman poet, who was born in Jersey and brought up in mainland Normandy , ending his career as Canon of Bayeux.-Life:...
and Layamon
Layamon
Layamon or Laghamon (ˈlaɣamon; in American English often modernised as ; ), occasionally written Lawman, was a poet of the early 13th century and author of the Brut, a notable English poem of the 12th century that was the first English language work to discuss the legends of Arthur and the...
: "Camelot" originates with the French writer of courtly romance Chrétien de Troyes
Chrétien de Troyes
Chrétien de Troyes was a French poet and trouvère who flourished in the late 12th century. Perhaps he named himself Christian of Troyes in contrast to the illustrious Rashi, also of Troyes...
. These earlier authors say that Arthur's capital was Caerleon (which Chretien also mentions), while even the later recaster of Arthurian material in English, Sir Thomas Malory
Thomas Malory
Sir Thomas Malory was an English writer, the author or compiler of Le Morte d'Arthur. The antiquary John Leland as well as John Bale believed him to be Welsh, but most modern scholars, beginning with G. L...
, has Arthur re-crowned at "Carlion". The still-visible Roman amphitheatre at Caerleon has been associated with Arthur's 'Round-Table
Round Table (Camelot)
The Round Table is King Arthur's famed table in the Arthurian legend, around which he and his Knights congregate. As its name suggests, it has no head, implying that everyone who sits there has equal status. The table was first described in 1155 by Wace, who relied on previous depictions of...
' element of the tales. and has been suggested as a possible source for the legend.
Geoffrey of Monmouth writes of Caerleon in the mid 12th century:
- "For it was located in a delightful spot in GlamorganGlamorganGlamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
, on the River UskRiver UskThe River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
, not far from the Severn Sea. Abounding in wealth more than other cities, it was suited for such a ceremony. For the noble river I have named flows along it on one side, upon which the kings and princes who would be coming from overseas could be carried by ship. But on the other side, protected by meadow and woods, it was remarkable for royal palaces, so that it imitated Rome in the golden roofs of its buildings... Famous for so many pleasant features, Caerleon was made ready for the announced feast." (Historia Regum BritanniaeHistoria Regum BritanniaeThe Historia Regum Britanniae is a pseudohistorical account of British history, written c. 1136 by Geoffrey of Monmouth. It chronicles the lives of the kings of the Britons in a chronological narrative spanning a time of two thousand years, beginning with the Trojans founding the British nation...
"History of the Kings of Britain")
This is only a short part of a description that emphasises the power and wealth of Arthur's court. The huge scale of the ruins along with Caerleon's importance as a urban centre in early mediæval Kingdom of Gwent would have inspired stories which Geoffrey expanded.
Caerleon also has later Arthurian literary associations, as the birthplace of the writer Arthur Machen
Arthur Machen
Arthur Machen was a Welsh author and mystic of the 1890s and early 20th century. He is best known for his influential supernatural, fantasy, and horror fiction. His novella The Great God Pan has garnered a reputation as a classic of horror...
who often used it as a location in his work. The Hanbury Arms was visited by the poet Tennyson
Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson
Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson, FRS was Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom during much of Queen Victoria's reign and remains one of the most popular poets in the English language....
who lodged at the inn while he wrote his Morte d'Arthur (later incorporated into his Idylls of the King
Idylls of the King
Idylls of the King, published between 1856 and 1885, is a cycle of twelve narrative poems by the English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson which retells the legend of King Arthur, his knights, his love for Guinevere and her tragic betrayal of him, and the rise and fall of Arthur's kingdom...
). Today Caerleon has a modern statue of a knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
, "The Hanbury Knight", in reflecting inox
Stainless steel
In metallurgy, stainless steel, also known as inox steel or inox from French "inoxydable", is defined as a steel alloy with a minimum of 10.5 or 11% chromium content by mass....
by Belgian sculptor Thierry Lauwers.
In Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo
Michael Morpurgo, OBE FKC AKC is an English author, poet, playwright and librettist, best known for his work in children's literature. He was the third Children's Laureate.-Early life:...
's novel Arthur, High King of Britain, Caerleon is the castle where Arthur unknowingly commits incest
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
with his half-sister Margause, resulting in the conception of his son Mordred
Mordred
Mordred or Modred is a character in the Arthurian legend, known as a notorious traitor who fought King Arthur at the Battle of Camlann, where he was killed and Arthur fatally wounded. Tradition varies on his relationship to Arthur, but he is best known today as Arthur's illegitimate son by his...
who will later bring about his downfall.
Overview
Caerleon is centred around a small commonCommon land
Common land is land owned collectively or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect firewood, or to cut turf for fuel...
. Goldcroft Common is the only remaining of the seven commons of Caerleon. Most of the small businesses of Caerleon are near the common as is the Tourist Information Office and Town Hall which has a World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
memorial garden. The intersection of High Street and Cross Street is known as The Square.
Buildings of note are Saint Cadoc's Church
Saint Cadoc's Church
St Cadoc's Church is located in Caerleon, Newport. It is one of many buildings associated with the travels of Saint Cadoc.Caerleon is the historically important site of the Roman legionary fortress of Isca Augusta. Saint Cadoc's Church stands over the principia , where the legionary standards were...
, the National Roman Legion Museum
National Roman Legion Museum
The National Roman Legion Museum is one of the National Museums of Wales. It is located in Caerleon in the city of Newport, south-east Wales .-Background and History:...
, the Roman Baths Museum
Roman Baths Museum
The Roman Baths Museum is located in Caerleon in the city of Newport, south-east Wales.-Background and history:Roman Wales was the farthest point west that the Roman Empire in Roman Britain extended to, and as a defence point the fortress at Caerleon, built in 75 AD, was one of only three permanent...
, The Mynde, The Priory Hotel, Caerleon Catholic Church
Julius and Aaron
Saints Julius and Aaron are celebrated as two British martyrs who died during the religious persecutions of the Emperor Diocletian in AD 304. Their feast day was traditionally celebrated on July 1....
and Rectory, Caerleon Endowed School
Caerleon Endowed Junior School
Caerleon Endowed Junior School is an endowed school situated in Caerleon on the outskirts of the city of Newport, Wales. The school boasts an excellent reputation locally, not only for the academic results of its pupils, but also in sport....
, the Round Tower, the Toll House at Caerleon Bridge
Caerleon Bridge
Caerleon Bridge is a bridge crossing of the River Usk at Caerleon in the city of Newport, United Kingdom.The stone built bridge was opened in 1806 as a replacement for the previous wooden bridge, it carries the B4236 road from Caerleon-ultra-Pontem into Caerleon itself...
, The Malt House hotel, University of Wales, Newport
University of Wales, Newport
The University of Wales, Newport is a university based in Newport, South Wales. The university has two campuses; Caerleon on the northern outskirts of the city and a £35 million campus on the banks of the River Usk in Newport city centre opened in 2011...
Caerleon Campus and St Cadoc's Hospital
St Cadoc's Hospital
Not to be confused with the electoral ward of St Cadocs/Penygarn.Saint Cadoc's Hospital is located in Caerleon on the northern outskirts of the city of Newport....
. The historic remains of the Roman Legionary Fortress Isca Augusta
Isca Augusta
Isca Augusta was a Roman legionary fortress and settlement, the remains of which lie beneath parts of the present-day village of Caerleon on the northern outskirts of the city of Newport in South Wales.-Name:...
is popular with tourists and school parties and there is a marked heritage trail in the village. The Millennium Wildlife Garden is a small nature garden on the banks of the River Usk. The hilltop vantage point at Christchurch provides panoramic views of the Vale of Usk and Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
.
The municipal playing fields are at Caerleon Broadway and a good quality children's playground is in Cold Bath Road. Private sport and leisure facilities are available at the Celtic Manor and the University of Wales, Newport
University of Wales, Newport
The University of Wales, Newport is a university based in Newport, South Wales. The university has two campuses; Caerleon on the northern outskirts of the city and a £35 million campus on the banks of the River Usk in Newport city centre opened in 2011...
Caerleon Campus. Caerleon library is located in the grounds of Caerleon Comprehensive School. Caerleon has a few restaurants, cafés and take-away food outlets and many public houses that have restaurant facilities. The Ffwrrwm is a small specialist shopping courtyard with an eclectic display of sculpture. Caerleon also has its own station of Gwent Police
Gwent Police
Gwent Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the local authority areas of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen in southeast Wales....
and an active community policing presence.
Governance
Caerleon is an electoral ward of Newport City CouncilNewport City Council
Newport City Council is the governing body for the city of Newport, one of the subdivisions of Wales within the United Kingdom. It consists of 50 councillors, representing the city's 20 wards. Since the 2008 election, the council has been controlled jointly by the Conservatives and Liberal...
. Caerleon is within the UK Parliamentary consituency
United Kingdom constituencies
In the United Kingdom , each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly.Within the United Kingdom there are now five bodies with members elected by constituencies:...
of Newport West
Newport West (UK Parliament constituency)
Newport West is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament using the first-past-the-post voting system...
, the National Assembly for Wales
National Assembly for Wales
The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...
constituency of Newport West
Newport West (National Assembly for Wales constituency)
Newport West is a constituency of the National Assembly for Wales. It elects one Assembly Member by the first past the post method of election...
and the Wales European Parliament Constituency
Wales (European Parliament constituency)
Wales is a constituency of the European Parliament. It currently elects 4 MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.- Boundaries :...
.
Geography
The centre of Caerleon sits in the Vale of Usk and the River UskRiver Usk
The River Usk rises on the northern slopes of the Black Mountain of mid-Wales, in the easternmost part of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Initially it flows north into Usk Reservoir, then east by Sennybridge to Brecon before turning southeast to flow by Talybont-on-Usk, Crickhowell and...
forms part of the community's southern boundary. In the north-west part of the village, across the railway bridges, the land rises sharply up to Lodge Wood and its hill fort
Hill fort
A hill fort is a type of earthworks used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Some were used in the post-Roman period...
. The community's western boundary is formed by the A4042 road
A4042 road
The A4042 is a trunk road that runs from Abergavenny to Newport in the United Kingdom.It begins on junction of the A40 and A465 south of Abergavenny and then travels southwards towards Little Mill north of Pontypool. This section is a single carriageway and is notoriously winding and undulating...
(Heidenheim Drive) and the northern boundary partly by the Malthouse Road and partly by the Afon Llwyd
Afon Llwyd
The Afon Lwyd is a small river in south Wales which flows from its source north of Blaenavon, through Abersychan, Pontypool and Cwmbran before flowing into the River Usk at Caerleon, which subsequently flows into the Bristol Channel in Newport. The name is Welsh, meaning "Grey River".Historically...
river which flows southwards to the River Usk along the village's eastern side. Across the River Usk from Caerleon, to the south-east and east, St Julian's Park, the village of Christchurch and the upland region around Christchurch Hill as far as the M4 motorway
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
and the A449 road
A449 road
The A449 is a major road in the United Kingdom. It runs north from junction 24 of the M4 motorway at Newport in South Wales to Stafford in Staffordshire....
are also within the community.
Transport
Caerleon is 3½ miles from Newport city centreNewport city centre
Newport city centre is traditionally regarded as the area of Newport bounded by the west bank of the River Usk, the George Street Bridge, the eastern flank of Stow Hill and the Great Western Main Line. Most of the city centre is contained within two conservation areas: the central area and the area...
and 5½ miles from Cwmbran
Cwmbran
Cwmbrân is a new town in Wales. Today forming part of the county borough of Torfaen and lying within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire, Cwmbrân was established in 1949 to provide new employment opportunities in the south eastern portion of the South Wales Coalfield. Cwmbrân means Crow...
. Caerleon is 2 miles north of the M4 motorway
M4 motorway
The M4 motorway links London with South Wales. It is part of the unsigned European route E30. Other major places directly accessible from M4 junctions are Reading, Swindon, Bristol, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea...
.
Caerleon is accessed via Junction 25 (Caerleon Road) for westbound M4 traffic. There is no M4 Junction 25 exit for eastbound M4 traffic so for eastbound traffic Caerleon is accessed via M4 Junction 26, then A4051 (Malpas Road) and A4042 (Heidenheim Drive) to the Junction 25A offslip.
An alternative route to Caerleon is M4 Junction 24 (Coldra), B4237 (Chepstow Road), then B4236 (Royal Oak Hill/Belmont Hill) over Christchurch.
Conversely, traffic joining the M4 from Caerleon can join the M4 eastbound at Junction 25 but to join the M4 westbound traffic must follow the Junction 25A offslip, Heidenheim Drive, Malpas Road route to M4 Junction 26. Alternatively, traffic can join the M4 both eastbound and westbound at Junction 24.
The B4596 (Caerleon Road) links Newport city centre to Caerleon via M4 Junction 25, crossing Caerleon Bridge
Caerleon Bridge
Caerleon Bridge is a bridge crossing of the River Usk at Caerleon in the city of Newport, United Kingdom.The stone built bridge was opened in 1806 as a replacement for the previous wooden bridge, it carries the B4236 road from Caerleon-ultra-Pontem into Caerleon itself...
into Caerleon High Street. The B4236 (Ponthir Road) links Caerleon to Cwmbran. The Usk Road links Caerleon to Usk
Usk
Usk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. A castle above the town overlooks the ancient Anglo-Welsh border crossing - the river can...
.
The centre of Caerleon (High Street, Mill Street and Castle Street) is a one-way traffic system and there are car parks at Broadway and Cold Bath Road. A regular bus service links Newport city centre to Caerleon and there is a limited City Sightseeing
City Sightseeing
City Sightseeing is a global sightseeing bus brand, started by Ensignbus and the Spanish , which operates tour bus rides worldwide.Typically the tours consist of an open top double-decker bus. As the bus travels around the town or city, pre-recorded or live commentary is provided. City Sightseeing...
open-top bus service in summer months. A cycle and pedestrian walkway alongside the River Usk links Caerleon to Malpas
Malpas, Newport
Malpas is an electoral district and coterminous community parish of the city of Newport, South Wales. The area is governed by the Newport City Council.- Boundaries :...
and Newport city centre
Newport city centre
Newport city centre is traditionally regarded as the area of Newport bounded by the west bank of the River Usk, the George Street Bridge, the eastern flank of Stow Hill and the Great Western Main Line. Most of the city centre is contained within two conservation areas: the central area and the area...
at Crindau
Crindau
Crindau is an older inner-city area just north of the city centre in Newport in south-east Wales. It lies within the Shaftesbury electoral district and community ....
. Trains do not stop at Caerleon railway station
Caerleon railway station
Caerleon railway station is a former station serving Caerleon on the east side of the city of Newport. It was opened on the Pontypool, Caerleon and Newport Railway line in 1878 after the PC&N had already been absorbed into the Great Western Railway. It was closed to passengers on April 30, 1962 and...
, the nearest passenger stations are Newport railway station
Newport railway station
Newport railway station is the 3rd busiest railway station in Wales , situated in Newport city centre. It is part of the British railway system owned by Network Rail and is operated by Arriva Trains Wales, although First Great Western and CrossCountry also provide services...
, Cwmbran railway station
Cwmbran railway station
Cwmbran railway station is situated in the northeast of Cwmbran town centre within five minutes walking distance. It is part of the British railway system owned by Network Rail and is operated by Arriva Trains Wales. It lies on the Welsh Marches Line line from Newport to Hereford...
and Rogerstone railway station
Rogerstone railway station
Rogerstone railway station is a station on the Ebbw Valley Railway in the community of Rogerstone in Newport, south Wales. The station is situated ½ mile north of the original station on the site of former rail sidings. The station is within the Afon Village housing development...
. The nearest airport is Cardiff Airport (30 miles/48 km).
Education
A large campus of the University of Wales, NewportUniversity of Wales, Newport
The University of Wales, Newport is a university based in Newport, South Wales. The university has two campuses; Caerleon on the northern outskirts of the city and a £35 million campus on the banks of the River Usk in Newport city centre opened in 2011...
is located in Caerleon including student accommodation blocks. The secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
is Caerleon Comprehensive
Caerleon Comprehensive School
Caerleon Comprehensive School is a state-run school situated in Caerleon on the outskirts of Newport, South Wales.-Identity:There are approximately 1600-1700 pupils on roll at the school at any one time, including a sizable sixth form of around 300 pupils...
. The primary schools are Caerleon Endowed Infants and Juniors
Caerleon Endowed Infants School
Caerleon Endowed Infants School is an endowed school situated in Caerleon on the outskirts of the city of Newport, south-east Wales.-Facilities:...
and Caerleon Lodge Hill Infants and Juniors.
Education is generally conducted in the English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in schools but at least a mandatory Welsh language
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
content must be provided under the Welsh education curriculum. There are no Welsh-medium education
Welsh medium education
Education delivered through the medium of the Welsh language is known as Welsh medium education .Welsh medium education should be distinguished from the teaching of Welsh as an academic subject. Welsh as a subject is taught as first language in Welsh medium schools...
schools in Caerleon but there are two primary schools elsewhere in Newport; Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd in Hartridge
Ringland, Newport
Ringland is both an electoral ward and community parish of the city of Newport, South Wales.The ward is bounded by Ringland Way to the east, the southern boundary of Hartridge High School to the south, Balfe Rd, Aberthaw Rd, Ringland Circle, Ringwood Avenue, across Chepstow Rd, Mountbatten close...
and Ysgol Gymraeg Ifor Hael in Bettws
Bettws, Newport
Bettws is an electoral ward and coterminous community of the city of Newport, South Wales. It is one of the largest modern housing estates in Europe....
. The nearest Welsh-medium secondary school is Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw
Ysgol Gyfun Gwynllyw
' is a Welsh-medium comprehensive school located in Trevethin, Pontypool in Torfaen, Wales and named for Saint Gwynllyw.- History :The school was founded in 1988 as the first Welsh-medium school in the former Gwent LEA area and is housed in accommodation previously used for Trevethin Comprehensive...
in Trevethin
Trevethin
Trevethin is a community of Pontypool in Torfaen, Wales.-History and amenities:It is a modern suburb, built around a small village in the 1960s and '70s and is all but merged with nearby Penygarn. In 2005 it was announced that the district's local school, Trevethin Community School, was to close....
, Pontypool
Pontypool
Pontypool is a town of approximately 36,000 people in the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales....
.
Housing
Historically housing was largely located on the west bank of the River Usk between Caerleon Bridge and the College along with a small number of houses on the east bank. A number of substantial housing developments have been created to the West of Caerleon: Lodge Hill, Home Farm, Roman Reach, Trinity View, Brooklea and The Brades as well as smaller cluster developments near the centre of the village. Substantial housing developments in nearby PonthirPonthir
Ponthir is a large village at the south-west of the county borough of Torfaen on the boundary of the city of Newport, South Wales.- Etymology :The Welsh language placename indicates the correct pronunciation; i.e. saying the 't' and 'h' separately...
and Cwmbran has also increased traffic congestion in Caerleon.
Sport
The Caerleon ward is home to the Celtic Manor ResortCeltic Manor Resort
The Celtic Manor Resort is a golf-centric hotel and leisure resort in Newport, south Wales. It consists of two adjoining hotels, a country inn, two golf and country clubs, and a multi-purpose conference centre...
, location of the 2010 Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
. Caerleon also has a good quality 9-hole municipal golf course, driving range
Driving range
A driving range is an area where golfers can practice their swing. It can also be a recreational activity itself for amateur golfers or when enough time for a full game is not available. Many golf courses have a driving range attached and they are also found as stand-alone facilities, especially...
and golf clubhouse. However, during winter months the golf course is prone to flooding due to its location alongside the River Usk.
The association football club Caerleon A.F.C.
Caerleon A.F.C.
Caerleon Association Football Club is an association football club based in the Roman village of Caerleon on the northern outskirts of the City of Newport, South Wales. Caerleon resided in the Welsh Football League Division One for numerous seasons but were relegated to Division Two for the 2010–11...
is based in Caerleon along with two rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
clubs; Newport High School Old Boys RFC and Caerleon RFC whose grounds are less than a mile apart and who are known for their fierce rivalry.
Caerleon Bowls
Bowls
Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so that they stop close to a smaller "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a pitch which may be flat or convex or uneven...
Club has a good quality outdoor green. Caerleon has one chapter of the Academy of Historical Fencing
Academy of Historical Fencing
The Academy of Historical Fencing is based in the United Kingdom and includes a school in South Wales and in the West of England . The school is run by a group of martial artists looking to develop their skills and knowledge whilst also sharing knowledge with like minded people...
, a western martial arts group who study and practise fencing with the weapons and styles of medieval and renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
Europe. The club trains on the University Campus and also has two Chapters in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.
Culture and community
Caerleon has hosted an arts festivalArts festival
An arts festival is a festival that focuses on the visual arts in all its forms, but which may also focus on or include other arts.Arts festivals in the visual arts are exhibitions and are not to be confused with the commercial art fair. Artists participate in the most important of such festival...
in July each year since 2002, which includes tree sculptors
Living sculpture
Living sculpture is any type of sculpture that is created with living, growing grasses, vines, plants or trees. It can be functional and/or ornamental...
from around the world. Many of the sizeable sculptures are retained around Caerleon as a Sculpture park and local landmarks. The arts festival coincides with the Roman military re-enactment in the amphitheatre which demonstrates Roman military armour, infantry tactics
Roman infantry tactics
Roman infantry tactics refers to the theoretical and historical deployment, formation and maneuvers of the Roman infantry from the start of the Roman Republic to the fall of the Western Roman Empire. The article first presents a short overview of Roman training. Roman performance against different...
, cavalry tactics, equipment and siege engine
Siege engine
A siege engine is a device that is designed to break or circumvent city walls and other fortifications in siege warfare. Some have been operated close to the fortifications, while others have been used to attack from a distance. From antiquity, siege engines were constructed largely of wood and...
s such as ballista
Ballista
The ballista , plural ballistae, was an ancient missile weapon which launched a large projectile at a distant target....
e.
Live music events and Visual arts
Visual arts
The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...
are staged at venues including the open-air Roman Amphitheatre, which hosts plays in the summer.
An informative and wide ranging history of Caerleon was published in 1970 by local amateur historian Primrose Hockey MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
, who was a founder member of Caerleon Local History Society. An archive of her local history collection is kept by the Gwent Record Office.
St Cadoc's Hospital
St Cadoc's Hospital
Not to be confused with the electoral ward of St Cadocs/Penygarn.Saint Cadoc's Hospital is located in Caerleon on the northern outskirts of the city of Newport....
in Caerleon has been featured as a location of episodes in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television programmes Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
and Being Human
Being Human (TV series)
Being Human is a British supernatural drama television series. It was created and written by Toby Whithouse and is currently broadcast on BBC Three. The show blends elements of flatshare comedy and horror drama...
.
Notable people
Inclusion criteria: notable people who were born, resided or were schooled in Caerleon.- See also :Category:People from Caerleon
- The Darling BudsThe Darling BudsThe Darling Buds were an indie band from Newport, South Wales. The band formed in 1986 and were named after the H. E. Bates novel The Darling Buds of May – a title taken in turn, from the third line of Shakespeare's Sonnet 18: "Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May".-Career:Influenced...
(Indie band) - Roger FreestoneRoger FreestoneRoger Freestone is a former Wales international Goalkeeper.-Club career:Born in Caerleon, near Newport, Monmouthshire, Freestone began his career at Newport County as a trainee before moving to Chelsea in 1987 for £95,000...
, Wales international footballer - Len HillLen HillLenard Winston Hill , was a Welsh sportsman, who played first-class cricket for Glamorgan, league football for Swansea Town and Newport County and was also a talented tennis player.-Early sporting career:...
, footballer and cricketer - Gary HockingGary HockingGary Stuart Hocking was a Grand Prix motorcycle road racing world champion from Rhodesia who raced in the late 1950s and early 1960s.- Early life :...
, motorcycle racer - Arthur MachenArthur MachenArthur Machen was a Welsh author and mystic of the 1890s and early 20th century. He is best known for his influential supernatural, fantasy, and horror fiction. His novella The Great God Pan has garnered a reputation as a classic of horror...
, author - James MayJames MayJames Daniel May is an English television presenter, journalist and writer. He is best known for his role as co-presenter of the award-winning motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond....
, television presenter - Lyndon MustoeLyndon MustoeLyndon Mustoe was a Welsh rugby union prop who was selected for the Wales national team on ten occasions during the 1990s....
, Wales international rugby union player - Carl SargentCarl SargentCarl L. Sargent is a British author of several roleplaying game-based products and novels.-Early career:...
, author - James SommerinJames SommerinJames Sommerin is a Welsh-born Michelin-starred chef.Born in Caerleon, Sommerin baked with his grandmother on Saturdays as a child...
, chef - Nigel VaughanNigel VaughanNigel Mark Vaughan is a Welsh former professional footballer and Wales international. He gained ten international caps during his career.-Club career:...
, Wales international footballer - Nick WalneNick WalneNicholas John Walne is a former Wales international rugby union player. He was selected for the 1999 Rugby World Cup squad. Walne usually played on the wing but sometimes at centre. He played his club rugby for Cardiff. Walne was educated at Caerleon Comprehensive School.-Notes:...
, Wales international rugby union player - Violet Lawrence, aged 102 (in June 2010 became Britain's oldest surviving police widow).
- The Darling Buds
See also
- Academy of Historical FencingAcademy of Historical FencingThe Academy of Historical Fencing is based in the United Kingdom and includes a school in South Wales and in the West of England . The school is run by a group of martial artists looking to develop their skills and knowledge whilst also sharing knowledge with like minded people...
- Afon LlwydAfon LlwydThe Afon Lwyd is a small river in south Wales which flows from its source north of Blaenavon, through Abersychan, Pontypool and Cwmbran before flowing into the River Usk at Caerleon, which subsequently flows into the Bristol Channel in Newport. The name is Welsh, meaning "Grey River".Historically...
- Caerleon IICaerleon IICaerleon was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who was a Champion runner in France and a two-time Champion sire in Great Britain & Ireland. Bred by Seth Hancock at his famous Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, he was out of the mare Foreseer, a daughter of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Round Table...
, racehorse - Caerleon Urban DistrictCaerleon Urban DistrictCaerleon Urban District is a defunct district council. It was established under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1894 and comprised the parishes of Caerleon and Christchurch in the administrative county of Monmouthshire....
- HMS CaerleonHMS CaerleonHMS Caerleon was a Hunt class minesweeper of the Royal Navy from World War I....
, ship - Pontypool, Caerleon and Newport Railway
- Usk Valley WalkUsk Valley WalkThe Usk Valley Walk is a waymarked long distance footpath in south east Wales, from Caerleon to Brecon.- Distance :The route runs some . The entire route can be walked in three to five days.- The route :...