The Romans in Wales
Here we link out to information pages detailing the lives of and the places that the Roman's occupied in Wales...
Caerleon
Caerleon, in South Wales, is home to one of Britain’s most important Roman sites. It was once the Roman fortress of Isca Augusta, a key military base for the Second Augustan Legion around 75 AD. The site features well-preserved Roman ruins, including an amphitheater, barracks, and bathhouse. The National Roman Legion Museum showcases artifacts from the period, offering insight into Roman life in Britain. Caerleon’s history and legends, including links to King Arthur, make it a fascinating destination for history enthusiasts.
Dolaucothi
The Dolaucothi Gold Mines, located in Carmarthenshire, Wales, are renowned as the only known Roman gold mines in Britain. Archaeological evidence suggests that gold extraction at this site began over 2,000 years ago, possibly during the Bronze Age, with significant development occurring under Roman occupation in the 1st century AD. The Romans employed advanced mining techniques, including the use of aqueducts for hydraulic mining and water-powered machinery for ore processing.
Following the Roman departure in the 5th century, the mines were largely abandoned until a revival in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite several attempts to resume operations, the mines were permanently closed just before the Second World War.
Today, the Dolaucothi Gold Mines are managed by the National Trust and serve as a significant historical site, offering insights into ancient mining practices and Roman engineering.
Sarn Helen
Sarn Helen is the name given to a network of ancient Roman roads that traversed Wales, connecting key settlements and military forts. Spanning approximately 160 miles, the route extended from Aberconwy in the north to Carmarthen in the west, though its precise course has been a subject of scholarly debate due to natural erosion and subsequent land use changes.
Constructed during the Roman occupation in the 1st century AD, Sarn Helen exemplifies the strategic infrastructure implemented to assert control and facilitate movement across the challenging Welsh terrain. The road linked key forts, settlements, and mining sites, underscoring its economic and military importance.
The nomenclature 'Sarn Helen' is steeped in Welsh legend, attributed to Saint Elen of Caernarfon, a figure from the medieval collection of tales known as the Mabinogion.
Today, remnants of Sarn Helen can still be traced, with some sections incorporated into modern roadways and others preserved as hiking and cycling trails. Notably, a long-distance mountain bike route named the Sarn Helen Trail follows parts of the road's course, running between Conwy on the North Wales coast and Worms Head on the Gower Peninsula.
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