The Tour of Wales

 

 

Gallery: Roman Wales
The Roman invasion of Britain saw many changes within Wales. The promise of gold in the Welsh hills and the resistance of Caradog (Caratacus in Latin) caused the Romans to expand into the hill country, although they governed the area from low lying forts close to the coasts. Most of the modern Welsh cities are built around these Roman forts.  

Caerleon Amphitheatre

Excavated earlier this century, this is one of the best preserved Roman remains in the United Kingdom. The Amphitheatre is situated close to a Roman fortress (the remains of which can also be seen) and would have provided traditional Roman entertainment to soldiers who were far from home.



Dolaucothi Gold Mines

Dolaucothi is the only known verified roman gold mine in the UK. The site is now in the hands of the National Trust and the original Roman open cast workings can still be clearly seen, along with other features such as access/drainage tunnels cut into the hillside. The mine lies alongside the more modern and more extensive gold mines of the industrial period but is surprisingly unaffected by the more modern workings.
Gold and other ores were a primary reason for the Romans invading Britain. Tin in Cornwall was mined long before the Roman invasion and the mineral wealth of the island made it attractive to the expanding empire.



 

 




 
  © Stephen Kingston