Caersws Roman Forts facts for kids
The Caersws Roman Forts were two important Roman army camps in Caersws, Powys, Mid Wales. These camps were home to Roman soldiers during the time the Romans occupied Great Britain, from the 1st to the 5th centuries. This part of Wales was then part of the Roman province called Britannia Superior. You can still see a part of an old Roman road near the camps today.
What's in a Name?
The Romans had their own names for these camps, but we don't know what they were. Historians have tried to guess, suggesting names like "Mediolanum" or "Mediomanum." These names might have meant something like "middle ground" or "central place." Some people think Caersws might be the "Cair Meguaid" mentioned in an old book about Britain's cities. But it's hard to be sure!
The First Roman Camp
When the Romans first began to take over Britain, they built a temporary army camp here. This happened between 43 and 84 CE. It was located in a bend of the River Severn, about 0.75 miles (1.2 km) east of the modern village of Caersws.
This first camp was quite large for a temporary fort. It was built using earth and timber. You can still see signs of its three defensive ditches and an entrance.
The Permanent Fort
Around 78 CE, after the Romans had taken control of Wales, they replaced the temporary camp with a permanent fort. This new fort was square-shaped and built closer to where the Rivers Carno and Severn meet. Today, the modern village of Caersws sits right on top of where this fort used to be.
This permanent fort was smaller than the first one. It had a large bank and three ditches around it, covering about 7.75 acres (3.1 hectares). It was home to Roman auxiliary troops, who were soldiers from other parts of the Roman Empire. Around 200 CE, the Romans rebuilt the fort's main buildings and walls using stone. The fort also had a military bath house and a small civilian settlement, called a vicus, just outside its walls. The Romans used this fort until the early 4th century.
