Burrium

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Burrium was a legionary fortress in the Roman province of Britannia. Its remains lie beneath the town of Usk in Monmouthshire.

The Romans founded the 48 acre (19.5 hectare) fortress around AD 55, probably for the 20th Legion and perhaps an additional ala of 500 cavalrymen. Earth and timber defences surrounded a number of legionary barracks. The fort was key to the conquest of the Silures, but in AD 66, the legion was transferred to Viroconium Cornoviorum (at Wroxeter) and their base in Wales was largely abandoned. It was briefly replaced by a works depot for iron working. The surrounding vicus seems not to have developed into a small town, although it may have had an official mansio.