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The Roman Amphitheatre is a rare example of Romano-British military architecture, situated in Wales and protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw under reference CM206. Built during the Roman occupation of Britain, the amphitheatre originally served as a venue for military exercises, weapons training and public spectacles within a fortified settlement. The monument sits on bedrock of Llanvirn Rocks formation, composed of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone deposited during the Ordovician period, which would have presented considerable challenges to Roman engineers constructing the substantial earthworks and stone structures required for the building's tiered seating and arena.
The amphitheatre's remains are embedded within this ancient geology, with the Whiterock strata underlying the entire site. This local stone was quarried and utilised in the monument's construction, making it visibly connected to the surrounding landscape. The preservation of the amphitheatre's structural form—the distinctive oval arena with its radiating tiers—demonstrates Roman engineering adaptability to the Welsh terrain.
This monument provides significant evidence for understanding Roman military life and entertainment in Roman Wales, and for the interaction between occupying forces and the native population. Its survival to the present day, maintained under Cadw's protection, makes it an important archaeological resource for studying Romano-British provincial culture during the first and second centuries AD.
Roman Amphitheatre is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CM206. View the official record →
The Roman Amphitheatre is a rare example of Romano-British military architecture, situated in Wales and protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw under reference CM206.
Roman Amphitheatre dates from the roman period, and is classified as a amphitheatre. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Roman Amphitheatre 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 CM206.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Rhyd-Lydan Cromlech (6.1 km), Banc y Bettws Castle Mound (6.5 km), Standing Stone NNW of Clomendy (6.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Roman Amphitheatre'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.
Roman Amphitheatre stands on Llanvirn Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Whiterock. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.