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Caerwent is a small village , but there is much to remind the
visitor of its Roman past. In Roman times it was a city of considerable
significance, the largest centre of civilian population in Wales.
The City bore the name Venta Silurum - 'market of the Silures'.
It was the administrative centre and capital of the Silures, whose
territories included the latter day counties of Brecknock, Glamorgan
and Monmouthshire
Venta was sited on a slight rise in the middle of a broad open
valley in an area of prime agricultural land, a little over 2
miles from the River Severn.
It sat astride the main Roman road running from Gloucester to
Caerleon and beyond.
Caerwent has the best preserved defences of any Roman town of
city in Britain. The total circuit of the wall slightly exceeds
a mile.
The temple complex was built about A.D.330.
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