Cowbridge (Roman town) facts for kids

Cowbridge was once a small Roman fort in Roman Wales. It was part of the large Roman province called Britannia Superior. Today, the modern town of Cowbridge is still there, with about 3,600 people living in it.

We don't know its exact Latin name. However, many historians believe it might have been called Bovium. This name comes from an ancient Roman travel guide called the Antonine Itinerary. The remains of this Roman settlement have been found underneath the current town of Cowbridge. This area is in the Welsh county of Vale of Glamorgan.

Discovering Ancient Cowbridge

Archaeologists have found some exciting things in Cowbridge. They discovered the remains of a Roman bath house. This bath house was no longer used by the early 2nd century AD. What's really cool is that some of the bricks found there had a special stamp. This stamp belonged to the Second Legion, a famous Roman army group. This suggests that Cowbridge might have started as an early military camp.

Life in Roman Cowbridge

People of importance lived in Cowbridge even in its early days. We know this because archaeologists found special funerary monuments (tombs or memorials) from that time. One amazing find was a beautifully carved stone lion!

Over time, Cowbridge grew into a small town. It stretched out along a main Roman road that ran from north to south. The buildings were typically made of wood and stone. They were often long and narrow, built within fenced areas.

What Did They Do There?

The people of Roman Cowbridge were busy! They worked in farming, processing crops from the land. They also had a large ironworking industry. This means they made many things out of iron. People continued to live in Cowbridge right up until the 4th century AD, showing it was an important place for a long time.

Images for kids

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  Cowbridge