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==Roman fort==
==Roman fort==
Being located on a spure of land just southwest of the [[River Taff]], made Pen-y-Darren an ideal location to build an occupation outpost fort for the Romans in AD75, during the governorship of [[Julius Frontinus]]. The only information known about the fort is from the later excavations undertaken during the construction of the football stadium in 1905 by [[Frank Treharne-James]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s2-JAME-TRE-1861.html|title=Frank Treharne James|publisher=National Library of Wales|accessdate=27 April 2011}}</ref> and in 1957 during the demolition of Penydarren House.
Being located on a spure of land just southwest of the [[River Taff]], made Pen-y-Darren an ideal location to build an occupation outpost fort for the Romans in AD75, during the governorship of [[Sextus Julius Frontinus]]. It was during this period that he subdued the [[Silures]] and other hostile tribes of Wales by establishing a new base at [[Caerleon]] or [[Isca Augusta]] for [[Legio II Augusta|Legio II ''Augusta'']], and this was one of a network of smaller forts fifteen to twenty kilometres apart for his auxiliary units.
The only information known about the fort is from the later excavations undertaken during the construction of the football stadium in 1905 by [[Frank Treharne-James]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s2-JAME-TRE-1861.html|title=Frank Treharne James|publisher=National Library of Wales|accessdate=27 April 2011}}</ref> and in 1957 during the demolition of Penydarren House.


From the combination of these works, it is presently estimated that the fort had a turf and clay rampart {{convert|8.2|m}} wide, set on a cobble foundation and separated by a narrow berm of {{convert|0.6|m}} wide from its double ditch. The inner ditch was {{convert|0.4|m}} wide, the outer {{convert|0.3|m}} wide, separated by a berm of {{convert|2.5|m}}. If a well recorded by Treharne-James in 1905 was centrally placed within the [[principia]], and a square outline is assumed, then the fort had dimensions of {{convert|152|m}} across the rampart crests, covering an area of {{convert|2.3|ha}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roman-britain.org/places/penydarren.htm|title=Pen-y-Darren Roman Fort|publisher=roman-britain.org|accessdate=27 April 2011}}</ref>
From the combination of these works, it is presently estimated that the fort had a turf and clay rampart {{convert|8.2|m}} wide, set on a cobble foundation and separated by a narrow berm of {{convert|0.6|m}} wide from its double ditch. The inner ditch was {{convert|0.4|m}} wide, the outer {{convert|0.3|m}} wide, separated by a berm of {{convert|2.5|m}}. If a well recorded by Treharne-James in 1905 was centrally placed within the [[principia]], and a square outline is assumed, then the fort had dimensions of {{convert|152|m}} across the rampart crests, covering an area of {{convert|2.3|ha}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roman-britain.org/places/penydarren.htm|title=Pen-y-Darren Roman Fort|publisher=roman-britain.org|accessdate=27 April 2011}}</ref>
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is located on a spur overlooking the Afon Taf
is located on a spur overlooking the Afon Taf


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 20:11, 27 April 2011

Penydarren
Population5,253 (2001)
OS grid referenceSO055075
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townMerthyr Tydfil
Postcode districtCF47
Dialling code01685 38
PoliceSouth Wales
FireSouth Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
List of places
UK
Wales
Merthyr Tydfil
For Trevithick's Pen-y-darren locomotive, see Richard Trevithick

Penydarren (Template:Lang-cy) is a community in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough in Wales.

The area is most notable as being the site of a 1st century Roman fort and during the Industrial Revolution it housed Penydarren Ironworks the third largest of the great Merthyr works. Penydarren was also used by Richard Trevithick as the location for his experiments into steam locomotion. The community and ward has a population of 5,253.[1] Penydarren Park, the site of the Roman fort and the football ground, is outside the community.

Roman fort

Being located on a spure of land just southwest of the River Taff, made Pen-y-Darren an ideal location to build an occupation outpost fort for the Romans in AD75, during the governorship of Sextus Julius Frontinus. It was during this period that he subdued the Silures and other hostile tribes of Wales by establishing a new base at Caerleon or Isca Augusta for Legio II Augusta, and this was one of a network of smaller forts fifteen to twenty kilometres apart for his auxiliary units.

The only information known about the fort is from the later excavations undertaken during the construction of the football stadium in 1905 by Frank Treharne-James,[2] and in 1957 during the demolition of Penydarren House.

From the combination of these works, it is presently estimated that the fort had a turf and clay rampart 8.2 metres (27 ft) wide, set on a cobble foundation and separated by a narrow berm of 0.6 metres (2 ft 0 in) wide from its double ditch. The inner ditch was 0.4 metres (1 ft 4 in) wide, the outer 0.3 metres (1 ft 0 in) wide, separated by a berm of 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in). If a well recorded by Treharne-James in 1905 was centrally placed within the principia, and a square outline is assumed, then the fort had dimensions of 152 metres (499 ft) across the rampart crests, covering an area of 2.3 hectares (5.7 acres).[3]



is located on a spur overlooking the Afon Taf

References

  1. ^ Penydarren Ward 2001 Census: Census Area Statistics: National Statistics. UK government. Retrieved 1 March 2009
  2. ^ "Frank Treharne James". National Library of Wales. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
  3. ^ "Pen-y-Darren Roman Fort". roman-britain.org. Retrieved 27 April 2011.


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