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Caerleon Legionary Fortress: Area of Myrtle Cottage Barracks is a Roman legionary fortress situated in Wales. Built to house a legion of auxiliary troops and support personnel, the fortress formed part of Rome's military infrastructure in Britain during the post-conquest period. The site occupies Lower Devonian bedrock comprising mudstone, siltstone and sandstone formed during the Early Devonian period, providing a stable foundation for the extensive stone and timber structures that once stood here.
The barracks area represents the regimented layout typical of Roman military accommodation, where soldiers were housed in long, narrow blocks arranged in precise rows. The underlying geology of this locality, with its mixed sedimentary strata, would have presented particular challenges and opportunities for construction and drainage. Archaeological investigation of the site has revealed the structural remains of these military quarters beneath the modern ground surface.
The Caerleon fortress remains one of the most significant Roman military sites in Wales. The Myrtle Cottage barracks complex forms an integral part of this heritage asset, demonstrating the substantial Roman military presence in the region. The site is protected by Cadw under reference MM242, ensuring its preservation for future study and understanding of Roman military life in Britain.
Caerleon Legionary Fortress: Area of Myrtle Cottage Barracks is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference MM242. View the official record →
Caerleon Legionary Fortress: Area of Myrtle Cottage Barracks is a Roman legionary fortress situated in Wales. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference MM242.
Caerleon Legionary Fortress: Area of Myrtle Cottage Barracks dates from the roman period, and is classified as a legionary fortress. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Caerleon Legionary Fortress: Area of Myrtle Cottage Barracks is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is MM242.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including St Julian's Wood Camp (1.5 km), Newport Castle (3.7 km), St. Mary's Churchyard Cross, Llanwern (4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Caerleon Legionary Fortress: Area of Myrtle Cottage Barracks's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Caerleon Legionary Fortress: Area of Myrtle Cottage Barracks stands on Lower Devonian Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Early Devonian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.