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Caerleon
is an ancient market town, in the parish of Llangattock,
and hundred of Usk, 3 miles from Newport, seated on the
Usk. This town was once the metropolis of Wales, and for
extent next to London; it was then the third city in Britain,
having been an archbishop's see from the establishment of
Christianity in this island. In the time of the Romans it
was their principal station; and, according to tradition,
the renowned King Arthur here kept his court, and instituted
that celebrated order of knighthood styled "the order
of the Round Table." The remains of several antiquities
are still found around the place - such as a part of the
wall that surrounded it, the site of a Roman amphitheatre,
and part of a fosse; remains of Roman armour, coins, stone
coffins, sepulchral stones, rings, &c., are often dug
up here. The walls of Caerleon were built by the Romans
with brick, and it is affirmed that they were three miles
in circumference. There were also three churches, exclusive
of the university, and many elegant structures, besides
baths. It is said formerly to have extended to St. Julian's,
and was a place of considerable strength in the reign of
Henry II., for the valiant Lorweth ap Owen ap Caradock,
lord of Caerleon, defended it a long time against the king's
forces, though at last vanquished and deprived of his seigniorial
territory. The name of this ancient and interesting city
signifies "the fortress of Lleon upon Usk," being
so designated from Lleon, a very ancient British king; and
not as Camden states, who says its name is derived from
the circumstance of a Roman legion being stationed here.
The suburb still bears the classical appellation of ULTRA
PONTEM. Giraldus Cambresis, who, in the fourteenth century,
wrote an account of Caerleon, says- "here we still see,
both within and without the walls, subterraneous buildings,
aqueducts, vaulted caverns, and stoves so excellently contrived
as to convey their heat through secret and imperceptible
pores." The principal works here are for rolling iron into
sheets, and coating them with tin. The places of worship
are, one church, and a chapel each for Baptists, Wesleyan
Methodists, and Primitive Methodists. The Rev. H. P. Edwards
is the present officiating minister of the church. The living
of LIangattock, is a vicarage, in the gift of the prebends
of Llandaff. The free school here was founded and endowed,
in 1724,
by Charles Williams, Esq., for clothing and educating twenty-five
boys, and the like number of girls. The other principal
charity is an alms-house for aged widows. The weekly market
is held on Thursday, and another every alternate Monday
for cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, &c. There are four
annual fairs, namely, the third Wednesday in February, May
1st, July 20th, and September 21st. The parish of Llangattock
contained, in 1821, 1,360 inhabitants; in 1831, 1,362 inhabitants;
and, in 1851, 1,539, of which last number 1,071 were returned
for Caerleon. In 1850 a museum was built here by the local
Antiquarian Society, situated in the main street, in which
are preserved the Roman coins, vases, bottles, &c.,
found in and about the town.
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CLERGY
and GENTRY.
Edwards
Rev. H. P., vicar, Vicarage
Hiley Mrs. Mary, Llangattock Juxta
Hotchkys C. Esq., High street
Jackson Rev. C. J. B., Baptist Minister
Jenkins W. D. Esq., Market place
Jones Rev. J. E., High street
Lee John Edward, Esq., Priory
Morris J. A. Esq., Back Hall street
Richards Mr. John, Church lane
Russel John, Esq., High street [top
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TRADES
and PROFESSIONS.
Bennett
John, grocer, Back Hall street
Callum George, boot and shoemaker, Mill street
Charles James, carpenter and wheelwright, Mill street
Cherry George, surgeon, Market p1ace
Clark Frederick, "Mason's Arms," The Common
Davies Ann Mary, victualler, "Rising Sun," Llangattock
Juxta
Davies Edward, beer retailer and shoemaker, High street
Edwards Charles, tin plate worker, Castle street
Edwards Rachael, beer retailer, Back Hall street
Edwards Thomas, beer and porter merchant, High street
Evans Richard, "Old Star," Back Hall street
Fothergill Rowland and Thomas, forge and tin plate manufacturers,
Caerleon Forge, Llangattock Juxta
Golledge Jobn, plumber, painter, and glazier, High street
Gray James, tailor and draper, Back Hall street
Gray Jane, National schoolmistress
Harris George, farmer, Cortymus, Llangattock Juxta
Harris Henry, farmer, Common, Cevin Llwyn, Llangattock Juxta
Harris Jane, "New Inn," High street
Hindarr Isaac, ironmonger and smith, High street
Hooper Sarah, "The George Inn," High street
Jenkins Alexander, tin plate manufacturer Broad Well house
Jones Thomas, agent
Jones Thomas, farmer, High street
Jones Wm., farmer, Llangattock Juxta
Jones Wm., "Red Lion," Back Hall street
Jones John, farmer, Penybankisha, Llangattock Juxta
Lewis Jane, milliner and dressmaker, Back Hall street
Lewis John, china and earthenware dealer, High street
Lindsey John, boot and shoemaker, High street
Mansell Lydia, nail manufacturer, Cross street
Matthews Elizabeth, grocer, Market place
Mills Henry, clockmaker, High street
Morgan Edward, tailor, Mill street
Morgan Elizabeth, shopkeeper, Back Hall street
Morgan Rees, "Hanbury Arms" Bridge street
Morgan Wm., beer retailer, The Common
Morris A. J., surgeon, Back Hall street
Orphan Thomas, tiler and plasterer, Back Hall street
Phillips Joseph, cottage farmer, Pantsoar, Llangattock Juxta
Powell Thomas, postmaster, saddle and harness maker, Market
street
Price William, maltster, Back Hall street
Pritchard Thomas, tin plate worker, Cross st.
Roberts James, "Old Crown," Back Hall st.
Rogers John, farmer, Red House, Llangattock Juxta
Rowlands Joseph, farmer, The Lodge, Llangattock Juxta
Sharp George, excise officer, High street
Thomas John, carpenter, High street
Thomas William, "White hart," Market place
Vaughan George, "King's Head Inn," Castle street
Vaughan William, tailor, Back Hall street
Walters Henry, relieving officer, Arthur Cottage, The Common
Warren Thomas, tiler and plasterer, Bridge street
Wilkins Thomas, carpenter and beer retailer, Mill street
Williams Hannah, shopkeeper, Back Hall st.
Williams Mark, butcher and beer retailer, High street
Williams William, master of charity school
Williams Mrs., mistress of charity school
Williams William, blacksmith and beer retailer, "Currier's
Arms"
Williams William, engineer, Cauthwa Cottage, Llangattock
Juxta [top
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The
Post Office is in Market street. - Mr. Thomas Powell, post
master. - delivery 7. a.m., and 8 a.m.; box closes for London
at 7.30. p.m., and for the North 9.50. p.m.
The
Police Station is in High street, Thos. Povill, sergeant
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