South Wales, little known and seldom explored, shelters some of Britain’s most rewarding Roman monuments and mediaeval remains.
Our journey will begin in Caerleon, the best preserved legionary fortress in the western Roman empire. Founded in AD 75, Isca – once the base of the Second Augustan Legion – bears substantial traces of its illustrious past: fortified defences, barracks, baths and an amphitheatre extensively excavated by Mortimer Wheeler. The town’s Roman Legionary Museum showcases one of the most impressive collections of ancient military artefacts to be found anywhere in Britain.
A little to the east of Caerleon lies Caerwent, Roman tribal capital of the Silures. Here we will discover the finest Roman town wall in Britain and examine the recently excavated houses, shops, forum and basilica.
Our final day will be devoted to the mediaeval landscape in and around Chepstow. The grandeur of Chepstow’s early Norman priory church is reflected in the vastness of the original nave, whilst Chepstow Castle, perched high above the River Wye, preserves an uncommon array of buildings ranging from the Norman Conquest to the 17th century. A few miles along the Wye Valley lies one of the country’s great monastic houses, Tintern Abbey, founded in 1131 and immortalised by Wordsworth and Turner.
Our base will be the Hotel Mercure Holland Park, a four-star hotel with swimming pool in the centre of Cardiff.
Date: July 1–3, 2011 |
Cost: £290 |
Lecturer: Mark Corney |
Course Code: CAST11 |
Itinerary
Day 1 Course assembles 1600 at Hotel Mercure Holland Park, Cardiff, for two nights. Drinks reception followed by illustrated talk: Prehistoric, Roman and Mediaeval South Wales.
Day 2 Morning in Caerleon: fortress wall, barracks, bath-house, amphitheatre, museum (one of finest collections of Roman military archaeology). Afternoon: Caerwent (best-preserved Roman town wall in Britain, basilica, houses, shops, temple). Evening talk.
Day 3 Morning: magnificent mediaeval town of Chepstow (castle, town walls, priory church). Afternoon: Tintern Abbey. Course disperses 1745 at Cardiff railway station, 1800 at hotel.
Cost
Cost of £290 includes: accommodation based on sharing a twin or double bedded room, drinks reception, breakfast & dinner, excursions & admissions (except English Heritage properties for non-members).
Not included: travel insurance, single room supplement £90.