Historical background

At the time of the Roman conquest, south-east Wales was inhabited by a tribe known as the Silures, described by the Roman historian Tacitus as "...powerful, warlike, valiant and stubborn", and having "...swarthy faces and curly hair".
Circa AD 55, the Roman army pushed significantly into Silurian territory between the English-Welsh border and the river Usk. By AD 74 the Second Augustan Legion had established a base at Isca (Caerleon). The Silures gradually adopted Romanised ways and were eventually granted a form of local goverment with its capital at Caerwent, known by the Romans as Venta Silurum, the market of the Silures. Venta grew rapidly and became a busy Roman town situated on the main route into South Wales. Its population peaked at somewhere between 2,400 and 3,800 in the fourth century. Compare this with modern Caerwent, which is now but a small village.
This Images of Wales feature illustrates some of the evidence which has been uncovered, enabling us to understand what life was like in Venta Silurum, 1,600 years ago.

Photograph supplied by Dilys Xavier

Above: Archaeological excavation of the Forum-Basilica in 1988.

Archaeological Excavation

Significant archaeological excavations have taken place at Caerwent at various times over the past 100 years, e.g. in 1899-1912; 1923-25; 1946-47; and more recently during the 1980s and '90s.
In the 1980s, fellow family historian Dilys Xavier lived at a farm across the road from one of the major excavation sites and observed the uncovering of foundations of a Roman-Celtic temple and the Forum-Basilica. Dilys has kindly allowed me to use some of her photographs of the 'dig' during the hot dry summer of 1988. By contrast, my own photographs were taken on a rather damp, dull day in early February 2001.
The excavated Roman remains at Caerwent are in the care of CADW: Welsh Historic Monuments which carries out the statutory responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Wales for protecting, conserving and presenting ancient monuments and historic buildings in Wales. Access to the remains is free.

Below: Archaeological excavation of the Romano-Celtic temple in 1988.

Photograph supplied by Dilys Xavier

Roman shops and houses

In 1946-47, excavations alongside Pound Lane, formerly a Roman street, revealed a complex group of buildings (below) including shops, a smithy, commercial properties, and residential quarters. Evidence was found that the complex had undergone several phases of rebuilding and alteration.

Photography by John Ball
Above: Excavated foundations of a row of Roman shops, alongside Pound Lane. The deserted scene above makes it difficult to imagine the hustle and bustle associated with this busy street full of traders, and the noise and smoke that must have issue from the blacksmith's forge.

Courtyard house

Excavations in the early 1980s uncovered a large residential building, north of the row of shops fronting Pound Lane. The original building was probably erected circa AD 200, but later alterations and additions were made over the next 100 years. The last building to occupy this plot was a very substantial dwelling (below) providing a high standard of accommodation. It included a number of rooms and chambers ranged around two courtyards.

Photography by John Ball

Above: Excavated foundations of a Roman Courtyard House, at the end of Pound Lane.

Some of the rooms had tessellated (mosaic) pavements, and the bathing chambers were heated by means of the hypocausts (underfloor spaces) through which hot air was channelled. The floors were supported on a series of brick or stone pillars (shown below) around which the hot air circulated.

Photography by John Ball

Above: The hypocaust and floor supports under a bathing chamber in the Courtyard House.

Romano-Celtic temple

East of Pound Lane, sited alongside the main east-west route through Caerwent, are the excavated foundations of a Romano-Celtic temple (below).

Photography by John Ball

Above: Excavated foundations of the Romano-Celtic temple.

The temple complex, near the centre of the Roman town, was first excavated in 1908 and more recently between 1984 and 1991. The temple was built about AD 330 to a design developed by some of the Celtic peoples of the Roman Empire. It is not known which god or gods were worshipped therein.

From an illustration by John Banbury, 1992

Above: Artist's impression of the Romano-Celtic temple, circa AD 330.

Forum-Basilica

Near the temple was the Forum (open market area), surrounded on three sides by shops, offices and taverns. On the fourth side, opposite the main entrance, was the Basilica, consisting of a great hall, used for ceremonies and public meetings, and other rooms used for adminstrative purposes.

Photography by John Ball

Above: Foundations of the Roman Forum-Basilica, most recently excavated from 1987 onwards.

The Welsh climate was wet, even in Roman times! Rainwater, on floor of the forum and from the roofs of the surrounding buildings, was channelled into stone guttering (below) and collected in a huge box drain. The water was then run away in lead pipes to soak into the earth.

Photography by John Ball

Above: Detail of the floor of the forum, showing part of the stone drainage guttering.