Editing Caerleon (section)

==Modern Caerleon==
===Overview===
[[File:Caerleon-Goldcroft Common.JPG|thumb|Goldcroft Common in 2010|alt=|left]]
[[File:Caerleon_War_Memorial_Garden.jpg|thumb|The War Memorial Garden, erected 1921 for the 1914–1918 Great War and later the 1939-1945 Second World War.]]
Caerleon is centred around a small [[common land|common]]. Goldcroft Common is the only remaining of the seven commons of Caerleon. Most of the small businesses of Caerleon are near the common as is the Town Hall which has a [[World War I]] and [[World War II]] memorial garden. Caerleon library is located within the Town Hall and is associated with [[Newport Central Library]]. The intersection of High Street and Cross Street is known as The Square.

Buildings of note are [[St Cadoc's Church, Caerleon|Saint Cadoc's Church]], the [[National Roman Legion Museum]], the [[Roman Baths Museum]], [[The Mynde (Caerleon)|The Mynde]], The Priory Hotel, [[Julius and Aaron|Caerleon Catholic Church]] and Rectory, [[Caerleon Endowed Junior School|Caerleon Endowed School]], the Round Tower, the Toll House at [[Caerleon Bridge]], The Malt House, former [[University of South Wales]] Caerleon Campus and [[St Cadoc's Hospital]]. There are 86 listed buildings in Caerleon.<ref>{{cite web |title=Caerleon, Newport |website=British Listed Buildings(britishlistedbuildings.co.uk) |url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wales/caerleon-newport#.XHafN6SnyaM |access-date=27 February 2019}}</ref>

The historic remains of the Roman Legionary Fortress [[Isca Augusta]] is popular with tourists and school parties and there is a marked heritage trail in the town. The Millennium Wildlife Garden is a small nature garden on the banks of the River Usk. The hilltop vantage point at [[Christchurch, Newport|Christchurch]] provides panoramic views of the [[Vale of Usk]] and [[Bristol Channel]].

The municipal playing fields are at Caerleon Broadway and a children's playground is in Cold Bath Road. Private sport and leisure facilities are available at the [[Celtic Manor]]. Caerleon has a few restaurants, cafés and take-away food outlets and many [[public houses]] that have restaurant facilities. Ffwrrwm Arts and Crafts Centre is a small specialist shopping courtyard with a gallery restaurant and an eclectic display of sculpture.

===Governance===
[[File:Caerleon Town Hall.JPG|thumb|Caerleon Town Hall in 2010|alt=]]
Until January 2020 Caerleon was within the [[Wales (European Parliament constituency)|Wales European Parliament Constituency]].

Caerleon is an [[Ward (politics)|electoral ward]] of [[Newport City Council]], represented since 1995 by three councillors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Newport-1995-2012.pdf|title = Newport City Council Election Result 1995-2012|publisher = [[Plymouth University]] |website=The Elections Centre|access-date=23 August 2022}}</ref> The ward includes [[Christchurch, Newport|Christchurch]] and [[Bulmore]]. Caerleon is within the [[United Kingdom constituencies|UK Parliamentary constituency]] of [[Newport East (UK Parliament constituency)|Newport East]], the [[Senedd]] [[Senedd constituencies and electoral regions|constituency]] of [[Newport West (Senedd constituency)|Newport West]].

The community includes [[Christchurch, Newport|Christchurch]] and the Afon Gardens area of [[Ponthir]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://mapit.mysociety.org/area/64900.html | title=Caerleon Community - MapIt }}</ref>

===Geography===
The centre of Caerleon sits in the Vale of Usk and the River Usk forms part of the community's southern boundary. In the north-west part of the town, across the railway bridges, the land rises sharply up to Lodge Wood and its [[hill fort]]. The community's western boundary is formed by the [[A4042 road]] (Heidenheim Drive) and the northern boundary partly by the Malthouse Road and partly by the [[Afon Llwyd]] river which flows southwards to the River Usk along the town's eastern side. Across the River Usk from Caerleon, to the south-east and east, St Julian's Park, the village of [[Christchurch, Newport|Christchurch]] and the upland region around Christchurch Hill as far as the [[M4 motorway]] and the [[A449 road]] are also within the community, along with the hamlet of Ultra Pontem.

===Transportation===
====Road====

Caerleon is {{convert|3.5|mile}} from [[Newport city centre]] and {{convert|5.5|mile}} from [[Cwmbran]]. Caerleon is {{convert|2|mile}} north of the [[M4 motorway]]. The B4596 (Caerleon Road) links Newport city centre to Caerleon via M4 Junction 25, crossing [[Caerleon Bridge]] into Caerleon High Street. The B4236 (Ponthir Road) links Caerleon to Cwmbran. The Usk Road links Caerleon to [[Usk]].

A regular bus service links Caerleon to Newport city centre and Cwmbran. There is a limited [[City Sightseeing]] open-top bus service in summer months. A cycle and pedestrian walkway alongside the River Usk links Caerleon to [[Malpas, Newport|Malpas]] and [[Newport city centre]] at [[Crindau]], route&nbsp;88 of the [[List of National Cycle Network routes|National Cycle Network]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/9074267._Vital__Caerleon_cycle_link_opens/ |title='Vital' Caerleon cycle link opens |date=9 June 2011 |publisher=southwalesargus.co.uk |access-date=15 December 2016}}</ref>

====Rail====
Trains pass through Caerleon on the [[Welsh Marches Line]], but do not stop at the closed [[Caerleon railway station]]. The nearest passenger stations are [[Newport railway station|Newport]], and [[Cwmbran railway station|Cwmbran]]. Transport for Wales have announced that Caerleon is a potential future station as part of the [[South Wales Metro]] project.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://beta.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2018-06/south-wales-metro-summary-brochure.pdf |date=June 2018 |title=South Wales Metro summary brochure |website=gov.wales |access-date=20 February 2019}}</ref>

===Education===
Schools in Caerleon generally teach in English, with Welsh being taught as a second language. [[Welsh-medium education]] is provided at schools elsewhere in Newport. There are two primary schools in Caerleon: Charles Williams Church in Wales Primary School (one of the largest Church Primary Schools in Wales) and Lodge Hill Primary School.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.charleswilliamsprimary.org/ |title=Charles Williams Primary |access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caerleonlodgehillprimary.org/ |title=Caerleon Lodge Hill Primary School |website=www.caerleonlodgehillprimary.org |access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref> Welsh-medium primary education is provided at Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Teyrnon in [[Brynglas]], Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd in [[Ringland, Newport|Ringland]] and Ysgol Gymraeg Ifor Hael in [[Bettws, Newport|Bettws]]. [[Caerleon Comprehensive School]] provides secondary education through the medium of English. Welsh-medium secondary education is provided at [[Ysgol Gyfun Gwent Is Coed]], a [[comprehensive school]] in [[Duffryn]] that opened in 2016.

====Higher education====
[[File:Caerleon Campus.jpg|thumb|left|Caerleon Campus in 2007]]
{{main|Caerleon campus}}
A campus of the [[University of South Wales]] was located in Caerleon. The campus closed on 31 July 2016. The campus was the main campus of the [[University of Wales, Newport]] and the second largest campus of the [[University of South Wales]] after the merger of universities in 2013. It hosted a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including education, sports and photography. The campus had extensive sports facilities, library, students' union shop, students' union bar and accommodation blocks.

During September&nbsp;2014, It the University of South Wales announced that the Caerleon campus would close in 2016<ref>{{cite web |title=Campus changes |url=http://campuschanges.southwales.ac.uk/ |website=University of South Wales Campus Changes |access-date=8 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117054031/http://campuschanges.southwales.ac.uk/ |archive-date=17 November 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> with courses being integrated into the remaining campuses. The University sold the campus for housing development despite strong opposition to the proposed re-development from local residents.<ref>{{cite web |title=Campus Changes |date=13 April 2016 |url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/14422303.Mistrust_and_anger_at_public_meeting_over_university_s_homes_plan_for_Caerleon_campus/ |access-date=18 April 2016}}</ref> The Caerleon Civic Society asked [[Cadw]], the body that looks after historic monuments and buildings in Wales, to give the [[Edwardian Era|Edwardian]] main building Grade&nbsp;II [[Listed building]] status to save it from demolition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Open Letter |date=June 2016 |url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/14530481.Caerleon_group_write_open_letter_to_re_assess_Caerleon_campus__39__main_building_for_listing/ |access-date=2 June 2016}}</ref> In August&nbsp;2016, the [[Welsh Government]] announced that they would recommend that the main building, gatehouses and gate piers be listed as 'buildings of special architectural and historic interest'. The University of South Wales expressed their continued opposition to the proposed listing but the announcement was welcomed by local politicians and the Caerleon Civic Society.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lifeline for part of Caerleon Campus after minister says building should be listed |date=8 August 2016 |url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/14667552.Lifeline_for_part_of_Caerleon_Campus_after_minister_says_building_should_be_listed/ |access-date=8 August 2016}}</ref> Grade&nbsp;II listing of the Main Building, the Principal's Residence, Gate Piers and Caretaker's / Gardener's Lodge was confirmed on the 3&nbsp;March 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=Historic Caerleon college campus given listed status by Cadw |newspaper=South Wales Argus |url=http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/15132072.Caerleon_campus_building_given_listed_status/ |access-date=4 March 2017}}</ref>

===Housing===
Historically housing was largely located on the west bank of the River Usk between Caerleon Bridge and Caerleon Common with a small number of houses on the east bank. A number of substantial housing developments have been created to the West of Caerleon: Lodge Hill, Home Farm, Roman Reach, Trinity View, Brooklea, and the Brades, as well as smaller cluster developments near the centre of the town. Substantial housing developments in nearby [[Ponthir]] and Cwmbran have increased traffic congestion in Caerleon.

===Historic public houses===
[[File:The_Priory,_Caerleon.jpg|alt=|thumb|147x147px|The entrance to The Priory, a historic restaurant and pub in Caerleon, Wales]]
The town had a number of [[coaching inn]]s in the early 19th century. A number remain including: The Priory (an abbey was first built here in 1179); the Olde Bull Inn (15th Century); the Hanbury Arms (1565); The Bell (originally built as a chapel in 1814); and the White Hart (a hotel later becoming a pub in 1815).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.caerleon.net/intro/heritage.htm |title=Caerleon Heritage Trail ISCA Wales UK |website=www.caerleon.net |access-date=2019-02-27}}</ref>

===Sport===
Caerleon has been home to a number of sporting competitions including:

====Newport Half Marathon====
{{Main|Newport Half Marathon}}
It is a part of the [[Newport Half Marathon]] route, entering the town via the [[National Cycle Route 88]] path, into the historic village centre past the Amphitheatre, over Caerleon Bridge and onto Caerleon Road back towards the city centre finish.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cityofnewporthalfmarathon.com/race-information/the-route/ |title=The Route |website=The Admiral City of Newport Half Marathon |language=en-GB |access-date=2019-02-27}}</ref>

====Tour de Gwent====
{{Main|Tour de Gwent}}
On 8 July 2018 the [[Velothon Wales]] included Caerleon on a 140&nbsp;km route, as well as two shorter routes of 125&nbsp;km and 60&nbsp;km.

In 2019 it was announced the Velothon Wales would not resume.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/17244142.disappointed-the-velothon-wales-wont-be-happening-next-year-sign-up-to-the-tour-de-gwent-instead/ |title=Disappointed the Velothon Wales won't be happening next year? Sign up to the Tour de Gwent instead |website=South Wales Argus |date=23 November 2018 |language=en |access-date=2019-02-27}}</ref> Instead, the [[Tour de Gwent]] will be the main cycling event for South Wales each year, with a 93&nbsp;mile route and other distances for different ability levels on offer.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://tourdegwent.org/#routes |title=Tour de Gwent |website=tourdegwent.org |access-date=2019-02-27}}</ref> It will again start in Caerleon and head to Abergavenny, returning to Caerleon via the Wye Valley.

====Tour of Britain 2017–2018====
{{Main|2017 Tour of Britain}}
Caerleon has twice hosted the British national cycling tournament, in 2017 and 2018. It has welcomed international riders including [[Julian Alaphilippe]], [[André Greipel]], [[Tony Martin (cyclist)|Tony Martin]], and [[Geraint Thomas]] to the popular cycle routes in the area. It includes a category&nbsp;2 climb at Belmont Hill which has proven popular with organisers.

On 10&nbsp;September 2017 the [[Tour of Britain]] came to Caerleon along the 180.2&nbsp;km (112&nbsp;mi) western route from Worcester to the competition's finish in Cardiff city centre. The peak of the British domestic cycling calendar, it saw a dramatic breakaway over Belmont Hill by riders [[Gorka Izagirre]] ([[Movistar Team (men's team)|Movistar]]) and [[Mark Stewart (cyclist)|Mark Stewart]] ([[An Post–Chain Reaction|An Post-Chain Reaction]]) which is a Category 2 climb and has been a feature of the Tour with a 9% average gradient. The riders were only eventually caught by the peloton near Cardiff at the close of the stage. The stage was won by [[Edvald Boasson Hagen]] of [[Dimension Data (cycling team)|Team Dimension Data]].{{Main|2018 Tour of Britain}}
On 2 September 2018 Caerleon again hosted the Tour of Britain route as it headed east from [[Pembrey]] to [[Newport, Wales|Newport]], a flat stage of 175&nbsp;km (109&nbsp;mi). The event was Welsh [[Tour de France]] champion Geraint Thomas' first competition following his success in France, with the route following near his birthplace in Cardiff. The stage was won by André Greipel of [[Lotto–Soudal]]. The event organisers sent riders from Newport city centre to Caerleon via Sustrans [[National Cycle Route 88]], which was mostly flat along the Usk riverside. The route passed the Roman fortress towards the countryside around the Celtic Manor Resort, and then into Usk. The [[King of the Mountains]] stage was again set at nearby Belmont Hill, with Tour de France winner Thomas famously describing the climb as 'too steep'<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/sep/02/geraint-thomas-tour-of-britain-andre-greipal |title=Geraint Thomas finds climb near home too steep in Tour of Britain|last=Fotheringham |first=William|date=2018-09-02 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=2019-02-27 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> after he lost lead position in the peloton to climber Alaphilippe.

====2010 Ryder Cup====
{{Main|2010 Ryder Cup}}
[[File:Caerleon_Cricket_Pavillion.jpg|alt=|thumb|The Cricket Pavilion in Caerleon, Wales. In the background is Caerleon Comprehensive School.]]
The local ward golf club was included in promotional material for the [[2010 Ryder Cup]] which was hosted at the nearby [[Celtic Manor Resort]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web |url=http://www.ryderdiary.com/dates-for-the-2010-ryder-cup-announced |title=Dates for the 2010 Ryder Cup Announced |website=Ryder Cup Diary (ryderdiary.com) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530000853/http://www.ryderdiary.com/dates-for-the-2010-ryder-cup-announced/ |archive-date=30 May 2016 |url-status=dead |access-date=30 October 2017 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Caerleon Golf Club is managed by the Celtic Manor Resort, and is a 9&nbsp;hole municipal golf course, [[driving range]] and golf clubhouse. During winter months the golf course is prone to flooding due to its location alongside the River Usk.

====Other sports====
Caerleon [[Bowls]] Club has an outdoor green and recently became home of the city's Newport Athletic [[Bowls]] Club which moved from [[Rodney Parade]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/10364182.community-destroyed-as-newport-bowls-club-turfed-out-after-100-years/ |title='Community destroyed' as Newport bowls club turfed out after 100&nbsp;years |website=South Wales Argus |date=18 April 2013 |language=en |access-date=2019-02-27}}</ref> The association football club [[Caerleon A.F.C.]] is based in Caerleon along with two [[rugby union]] clubs; [[Newport High School Old Boys RFC]] and [[Caerleon R.F.C.|Caerleon RFC]] whose grounds are less than a mile apart. Both rugby clubs have large junior sections and Caerleon Junior Youth Football Club is a substantial junior football club. Bulmore Lido was opened in Caerleon in July&nbsp;1934 land with an open-air swimming pool, cafe and restaurant,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caerleon.net/archive/photos/bulmore.htm |title=The Bulmore Lido, Caerleon also Bullmore Bullmoor |publisher=caerleon.net |access-date=15 December 2016}}</ref> closing in the 1980s.

[[Newport Racecourse]] at Caerleon staged [[National Hunt racing]] from the 1840s until its closure in 1948. It hosted the [[Welsh Grand National]] at Easter&nbsp;1948, the only time the race was held at Newport.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Pitt |first1=Chris |title=A Long Time Gone |date=2006 |publisher=Portway |pages=390–393| location=Halifax |isbn=1901570622 |edition=Rev. and updated}}</ref> Following the closure of the course the Welsh Grand National was transferred to [[Chepstow Racecourse|Chepstow]]. The racecourse also staged the [[International Cross Country Championships]] on six occasions between 1906 and 1951.<ref>{{cite web |title=International Cross Country Championships, Caerleon 1951 |url=http://www.caerleon.net/archive/photos/c_country.htm |publisher=Caerleon.net |access-date=30 December 2022}}</ref> The course was located on what is now the golf club and the comprehensive school.<ref>{{cite map |title =Monmouthshire XXIX.9 |map-url = |date=1920 |url=https://maps.nls.uk/view/135198982 |series=25 inch England and Wales, 1841-1952 |publisher=Ordnance Survey |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref>

===Culture and community===
====Caerleon Festival====
{{Main|Caerleon Arts Festival}}
{{more citations|section|date=November 2022}}
[[File:Caerleon Tree Sculpture.JPG|thumb|upright|Tree sculpture in Caerleon]]
Caerleon has hosted an [[arts festival]] in July each year since 2003, established initially to welcome participants and sculptors from around the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Caerleon Arts Festival 2003 |url=http://www.caerleon-arts.org/ |website=Celf Caerleon Arts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030718074616/http://www.caerleon-arts.org/ |archive-date=18 July 2003}}</ref> Many of the sizeable sculptures are retained around Caerleon as a [[Sculpture park]] and local landmarks. The arts festival coincides with the Roman military [[Historical reenactment|re-enactment]] in the amphitheatre which demonstrates Roman military armour, [[Roman infantry tactics|infantry tactics]], cavalry tactics, equipment and [[siege engine]]s such as [[ballista]]e. Recent developments with the festival have seen expansion, with the inclusion of a literary festival, food and drink offerings and music events staged at venues including Caerleon Town Hall and [[St Cadoc's Church, Caerleon|St Cadocs Church]]. The open-air Roman amphitheatre hosts an annual [[William Shakespeare|Shakespeare]]  play. The 'Big Free Weekend' alongside the [[River Usk]] is two full days of free live music and dance on three stages at the Hanbury Quay, the 17th century Bell Inn marquee and the Festival Meadow marquee. A diverse range of performers are featured including folk, idie, rock, choirs, celtic and international dance. The Festival field hosts displays, performances and vendors of crafts and [[visual arts]].

====Mari Lwyd====
{{main|Mari Lwyd}}
Writing in 1951, local historian and folklorist [[Fred Hando]] described the traditional journey through Caerleon of the Mari Lwyd or "Venerable Mary", a tradition similar to that of [[Hoodening]] found in [[Kent]], [[Padstow]] and [[Cheshire]], and involving a man dressed with a horse's skull. The jaw of the skull could be made to move, with the aid of rods. Hando's informant, Gus Sergeant of Bulmoor, reported that the Mari Lwyd had not been seen in the town for at least 20 years, but he was still able to describe it:
<blockquote>We filled the eye-holes with wadding and '[[Marble (toy)|pop alleys]]' and fixed great ears made of wadding stiffened with cardboard; then we stuck rosettes on the sides of the skull and strung long coloured ribbons as reins.</blockquote>
One man acted as leader of the Mari, holding the ribbons, and then came the Mari itself draped in a white sheet. It was followed by three singers, who sang in [[Welsh language|Welsh]] although "they didn't understand the words". On occasion, the procession of the Mari Lwyd would start as far north as [[Newbridge-on-Usk]] and proceed through the town, ending as far south as [[Goldcliff]]. The party would be invited into houses along the way and given "money and home-made cakes and gallons of beer". Another of Hando's informants provides a description, dated 1841, of the Yuletide tradition:

<blockquote>The custom of chaunting at their neighbours' doors on the [[Twelfth Night (holiday)|Twelfth Night]] ... on which occasion they are fantastically dressed with ribbons of various colours. One of the party carries a horse's head decorated in the same manner. Representations of trees, to which are appended apples and oranges, are also carried about, and on one of the branches an artificial bird, called "Aderyn Pica Llwyd" (the grey hobgoblin bird) is placed.<ref>{{cite book |editor-link=Fred Hando |editor-last=Hando |editor-first=F.J. |year=1951 |work=Journeys in Gwent |first=R.H. |last=Johns |title=Newport |chapter=Chapter&nbsp;2 – The Mari Llwyd at Caerleon}}</ref>
</blockquote>