Roman Abergavenny

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The Roman Fort Plaque in Castle Street 

The Romans and Abergavenny
The Roman name for Abergavenny was Gobannium – it is listed in the 3rd century road map known as the Antonine Itinerary as a stopping-place or mansio, which suggests it was a place of some importance. Gobannium is a Latinised version of an original Celtic place-name, now thought to be ‘the place of Gobannos’, a celtic smith-god.
The earliest Roman occupation at Abergavenny in the first century AD was a fort built at the same time as the one at Usk. Archaeological excavations have found the remains of timber framed buildings and even a cast window-pane – luxury!

Later excavations showed that there were several phases of building on the site of the Roman fort which is where the Castle Street car park now lies. It seems to have followed the traditional form of a Roman fort with barrack blocks, granaries and a central administrative building. Much of their rubbish was thrown over the rampart at the top of the slope down to the River Usk below, and this has been a treasure trove of found objects, many of which are now in Abergavenny Museum. Other finds suggest a metal working area in the area now known as Flannel Street.

Some of the finds, such as parts of the plate armour of the soldiers, chain mail and parts of horse harness, suggest that the fort was garrisoned by an auxiliary cavalry unit or a mixed infantry and cavalry unit. The rebuilding of the fort was probably done by troops from the Second Augustan Legion based at Caerleon.

A small civilian settlement (vicus) grew up just outside the fort and excavation finds suggest this was around the area of the junction of Monk Street and Cross Street. The excavation of some hypocaust tiles used for the under-floor heating suggest at least one Roman style mansion.  A well-made Roman Road leading north to Kenchester was discovered in about 1848, and cremation burials and finds turn up from the areas alongside. It was customary for the Romans to inter their dead with offerings alongside roads leading out of the settlement and finds have included broaches and pottery with dates varying between AD 60 to the second half of the second century AD.  On the north side of Abergavenny, the discovery of the Leopard cup in 2003 (now in the National Museum as the drinking cup with a leopard for a handle is very valuable and rare) was the highlight of these discoveries. More recently, excavations behind Gunter Mansion in Cross Street revealed another Roman Road going east.

Discovering Abergavenny: Archaeology and History by Frank Olding. The first edition of this book is now under revision with new and exciting material and will be ready later in 2020.
Information provided by Dr. Gill Wakley

These Roman artefacts can be seen in Abergavenny Museum and we thank curator Rachel Rogers for permission to display them. The oil lamp was found in Abergavenny and is mid first century and was probably imported from North Africa or the Middle East. 
The two large broken jars contained cremated bone and soil, and are one of the earliest cremation burials in Wales, dating from around AD. 60. They were found with offerings to the dead. They were found together at Park Crescent Abergavenny.



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