Roman Fort Discovered in Pembrokeshire

Romans in Wales
There are two main legionary garrisons constructed by the Romans to subdue the ancient Welsh tribes; Isca Augusta at Caerleon in South Wales and Deva (Victrix) at Chester, England. Both fortresses have been termed the "city of the Legions". Neither site has any association with Arthur's ninth battle which the 9th century Historia Brittonum tells us was "fought in the city of the Legion", and unconvincing attempts have been made to link both site's amphitheatres with the Round Table. 

Founded on the river Dee in the mid 70’s AD the construction of Deva was started by Legio II Adiutrix, who were transferred to the lower Danube in the late 80’s. Legio XX Valeria Victrix were then sent to Deva to complete the construction. The Roman fortress at Deva was built to pacify the tribes of northern England (Britannia) and vital to Rome’s ambitions to invade Ireland.

Legio II Augusta constructed the fortress at Caerleon near Newport, in AD 75, necessary to subdue the Silures who, according to the Roman historian Tacitus, were hostile. 

In Le Morte D'Arthur Thomas Malory had made Winchester his 'Camelot', but his publisher William Caxton didn't seem to agree with him, preferring South Wales for Arthur's capital, perhaps following Geoffrey of Monmouth who was no doubt inspired by the Roman remains there. Caxton was thought to be referring to Caerleon in his preface to Malory, "And yet of record remain in witness of him in Wales, in the town of Camelot, the great stones and the marvellous works of iron lying under the ground, and royal vaults, which divers now living have seen."

However, history does not record, to any great extent, significant Roman troubles conquering Wales, as with the northern tribes of Scotland such as the Caledonii. But it is fair to say, there are big gaps in Roman Wales that we know should have military installations, particularly south-west Wales, the absence suggesting a peaceful co-existence.

It is now becoming increasingly clear that Pembrokeshire, and adjoining counties in South-west Wales, were  more Romanized than previously thought. The Demetae of southwest Wales, centred on Moridunum (Carmarthen), are largely absent from Roman accounts, and it is generally considered that they were subdued with relative ease. Evidence of Roman occupation fizzles out after Carmarthen.

However, relatively recently Roman material has been recovered from a number of sites in Pembrokeshire, notably from coastal promontory forts at Brawdy, Buckspool, and elsewhere, indicating continuous, or at least periodic, occupation throughout the Roman occupation. So-called ringforts near Llawhaden and other areas suggest this was across the county. In addition, numerous Roman coin hoards have also been discovered in the county.

In 1995 a Roman road was discovered in Carmenthshire, heading west from Carmarthen and into Pembrokeshire, likely heading for Saint Davids. Then there  is a long stretch of road known as ‘the Causeway’, north of Camrose which tracks in a northwest direction (shown on old maps). A possible enclosed Romano-British villa has been identified south of its course.

A Roman villa, previously identified by the antiquarian Richard Fenton in 1811 at Ford near Wolfscastle, was revisited in 2010 by Dyfed Archaeological Trust with geophysics confirming the villa and revealed the presence of a prehistoric enclosure as well as a possible Romano-British building to the southeast of the villa.

A Roman fort was discovered at Wiston in 2012 through geophysical survey. The Wiston fort was probably built by soldiers of Legio II Augusta from Caerleon.

A Roman Fort Discovered in Pembrokeshire
Now a previously undiscovered Roman fort has been found in Pembrokeshire. This huge fort is sited right next to a newly identified Roman road in North Pembrokeshire, and may disprove the theory of Celtic-Roman peace in south-west Wales.

The discovery was made by Dr Mark Merrony, a leading Roman specialist from Oxford University, who said that this fort suggested this part of Wales was considerably more militarized than previously thought.

He noted that its form and scale was like the only other Roman fort known in Pembrokeshire, excavated at Wiston near Haverfordwest in 2013. Both forts were now linked to a Roman road network that had not previously been known, he said.

Merrony expects to find evidence of an adjacent “vicus”, a typical civilian settlement that developed alongside a fort. He suggests that this was a Roman auxiliary fort, intended perhaps for a single unit of about 500 troops.

The location of the discovery is not being revealed at present to protect the site from 'treasure hunters'.

Further information:
New find hints Wales fully-integrated into Roman Britain - BBC Wales 2 August 2024
Some Thoughts on the Romanization of Pembrokeshire - Dr Mark Merrony

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