Caerleon
Caerleon (spelt Caerllion in Welsh) is a town in south Wales. It is on the River Usk, about 5 miles north-east of Newport city centre.
Caerleon has lots of history. It was important as early as the Iron Age, with a hillfort used by the powerful Silures. Growth continued in the Roman times, with the fortress Isca Augusta. At the time it was a major city in Roman Britain.[1] It is from this fortress that we get the name "Caerleon" - caer = fortress in Welsh.
Caerleon Castle was built in the late 11th century by the Normans.[2] The castle ruins collapsed in 1739. Today a tower from the castle still exists at the Hanbury Arms pub.
Nearby Newport grew in the 19th century due to the Industrial Revolution, and today it overshadows Caerleon.
In sports Caerleon is well represented locally. There are 2 soccer teams - Caerleon AFC and Caerleon Town AFC - as well as 2 rugby union teams - Caerleon RFC and Newport HSOB RFC.