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MORRIS'S Caerleon Directory, 1862

Description of Caerleon
Clergy and Gentry
Trades and Professions
Post
Police

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

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

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