Roman Period 60 A.D. – 411 A.D.
In A.D. 43, Roman Emperor Claudius began the military conquest of Britain and within 17 years in A.D. 61, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus defeated the Druids on Mona (Anglesey). The Romans believed that the Druids posed a threat to their rule by influencing the native tribes of Britain, by advising tribal chieftains who were putting up a resistance, and who encouraged their warriors to fight to death. The aim was to destroy the Druid order and the druidical centre on Anglesey.
Following the victory against the Druids, Gaius Suetonius Paulinus’ troops destroyed the sacred groves of the people. This was a very short-lived invasion, as Gaius Suetonius Paulinus withdrew his troops and marched them back south to defeat the revolt of Boudicca and the Iceni troops.
In A.D 78 – 79, Roman Governor, Julius Agricola continued the conquest of Mona, attacking the Decangli in Mona and gaining full control of the area. The remaining local tribes and communities apparently capitulated and settled under Roman administration.
Roman Forts, Training Camps & Roads in Gwynedd & Anglesey
Some communities settled outside Roman forts in attached villages called a Vicus and may have been of a higher status than any other nearby settlements. Under these circumstances, they would have been subjected to Roman law and free to trade. Civilians were essential for use as a local workforce to build roads and to quarry stones.
Few hill tribes continued to trade and remained in smaller groups creating a Romano-British culture, living in smaller enclosed settlements. Farming would be an important contribution to the continuation of the Roman administration in North Wales. Although the Romans controlled the region, there was continuous guerrilla warfare in some highland areas.
Segontium in Caernarfon was an auxiliary Roman fort established in 77-78 A.D by Julius Agricola originally built to command the Menai Straits to enable the capture of the island of Mona. It takes its name from the nearby River Seiont and possibly the Segontiaci, a British tribe mentioned by Julius Caesar. It was the main Roman fort in the north of Roman Wales that lasted for around 330 years and was designed to hold about a thousand auxiliary infantry. It is approximate 150ft 45m above sea level on a natural plateau and commands an all-round view of the mountains, Menai Straits and Anglesey. It is of the usual playing card shape, in size 5.6 acres, 2.27 hectares with w shaped defence ditches and four gateways. It was garrisoned by cohorts of auxiliary and part mounted (Alae) troops. It was modified through to the late fourth century.
I have included an O/S number on all historical sites to enable everyone to locate using an O/S map
Gwynedd
Segontium – main Roman fort of North Wales – Caernarfon SH485623
Hen Waliau – Henwalia Roman Port 3rdCent AD (image by KH Banholzer) – Caernarfon SH481623
Bryn Glas – Roman signal station (rectangular enclosure) nr Roman Road – Caernarfon SH50266345
Dinas y Prif – Roman enclosed camp (earthwork) – Llanwnda SH463578
Caerlan Tibot – a small-defended enclosure (possible signal station) – Bethel SH507648
Caer Glascoed – Roman period defended enclosure / possible Iron Age – Llanddeiniolen SH548643
Coed Ty Mawr – possible late Roman period / early Medieval enclosed motte (earthwork) – Llanddeiniolen SH556663
Tyn Llan Uchaf (church) – Roman military fortlet – Llanddeiniolen SH544658
(Double defended enclosed earthwork, situated on the site of Llanddeiniolen church & cemetery)
Lon Isaf / Siambra Gwynion – possible Roman signal point – (A55 roundabout) Llys y Gwynt, Llandygai SH596695
Sant Cross Church Roman Fortlet – Roman military fortlet – Llandegai SH60757075
(an apparent right-angled corner in the field)
Pen-y-Gwryd – marching camp – (nr) Pen y Pass SH660557
Caer Llugwy, Bryn y Gefeiliau – Roman auxiliary fort – Capel Curig SH745573
Pant Glas – Roman marching camp – Bryncir SH477471
Derwin Bach – Roman marching camp – Bryncir SH477453
Pen Llystyn – Roman military auxiliary fort (destroyed by quarry, outer wall visible) – Bryncir SH480449
Llystyn Gwyn inscribed stone – possibly late Roman – Early Medieval (the period after the breakdown of Roman rule 400 and 1066 AD) set into a farmyard wall in 1972 – Bryncir SH48194554
It has an Ogam inscription:
ICORIGAS
‘of Icorix’
with a latin inscription:
ICORI FILIVS/POTENTI?NI
‘Icorix, the son of Potentius’.
Canovium – Roman auxiliary fort, defensive settlement & possible dock – Caerhun SH776703
Moel y Gysgfa – Plas Penrhyn (Castell Deudraeth) – Roman watchtower & Roman Rd – Minffordd SH58893776
remains of a bank & ditch, suggesting a possible defensive fortlet or watchtower to guard the Roman Rd crossings of Traeth Mawr & Traeth Bach.
Tomen y Mur – 120 AD – Roman auxiliary fort & defensive settlement – Trawsfynydd SH705386
(a Norman Motte was later constructed on the site of the old Roman Fort)
Roman Roads
Tomen y Mur – section of Roman road (Tomen y Mur to Caer Gai) with bridge crossing to the fort – Trawsfynnydd – SH70823840 / SH70743850
Sarn Helen Roman Road – Part of Roman Road (Canovium – Tomen y Mur) – Ffestiniog SH72224196
Bwlch y Ddeufaen Roman Road – sections of the Roman road (Segontium to Canovium) – Caerhun SH71387183 / SH71867161
Pentir Roman Road – section of the Roman road (Segontium to Canovium) – Pentir SH56516761
Roman milestones – a replica is erected on the site of a broken milestone (original now in the British Museum) – Llanfairfechan SH67907275
Anglesey
Caer Leb – Iron Age / Romano-British settlement (earthwork) – Brynsiencyn SH473674
Tai Cochion – Roman settlement – Trefarthen, Brynsiencyn SH480657
Rhuddgaer – Romano-British defensive settlement – (nr) Dwyran SH445642 (awaiting image)
Caer Gybi – Roman fort – Holyhead SH247827
Caer y Twr – Roman hillfort, site of Roman watchtower surrounded by extensive stone wall – Holyhead SH218829
Hendrefor – possible Roman enclosed settlement (rectangular earthwork) – Llansadwrn SH545765
Bryn Eryr – Iron Age / Roman settlement (rectangular earthwork) – Llansadwrn SH540757
