Castell Collen is a Roman auxiliary fort situated above the River Ithon near Llandrindod Wells in mid-Wales, established in the Flavian period (c. AD 75–78) during the campaigns of Frontinus or Agricola against the Silures and Ordovices. Originally a turf-and-timber fort of around 5 acres, it was rebuilt in stone in the early 2nd century and reduced in size in a later phase, with occupation continuing intermittently into the 3rd and possibly 4th century.
Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →
The fort was a key node in the network of garrisons controlling central Wales, linked by Roman road to Caerleon, Y Gaer (Brecon), and forts to the north, and would have housed a cohort-sized auxiliary unit policing the upland interior. The nearby practice camps on Llandrindod Common — among the best-preserved in Britain — indicate its use as a training base, giving it particular significance for understanding Roman military exercises.
Excavations by Haverfield, Wheeler (1911–13), and later Nash-Williams and others revealed the defences, principia, praetorium, and barrack blocks, along with evidence of multiple structural phases and a contracted later fort within the earlier perimeter. An external bath-house has been identified, and finds include pottery, coins, and inscriptions, though the specific garrison unit remains unidentified.
Castell Collen is a Roman auxiliary fort situated above the River Ithon near Llandrindod Wells in mid-Wales, established in the Flavian period (c. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a fort site from the Roman period in Britain.
Castell Collen is classified as a Roman fort — a military site in the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer. Roman Britain's archaeology encompasses thousands of sites ranging from legionary fortresses and marching camps to villas, temples and towns.
Several Roman sites lie within a short distance, including Colwyn (10.2 km), Esgair Perfedd marching camp (15.4 km), Caerau (18.3 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.
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