Romans and Victorians
Jul. 28th, 2007 06:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
llywelaHad a pretty lousy night last night. Migraine + running out of painkiller = nausea and no sleep. Not to be recommended.
Today was nice, though. For one thing, it didn't rain. And for another, my Dad had heard of a new (to us) place to visit, and took us there. I was still feeling pretty under the weather all day, unable to eat, but still managed to enjoy myself.
We went to Dewstow, which is in Caerwent, Monmouthshire. And, for a little place tucked away behind a golf course, it is absolutely stunning - a gorgeous Victorian garden recently restored, stuffed full of grottoes and tunnels. Took loads of photos, which for the sake of everyone's f-lists I shall hide behind a cut.
Exploring the gardens
There are little streams everywhere, bridged by stepping stones - have to be careful not to slip!
Down into the grottoes
Garden in a barn
More tunnels leading to underground grotto gardens
Dewstow House
Southern Gardens and grottoes
Me! Just to prove I was there *G*
Southern view from the gardens, looking down at the Bristol Channel and across to northern Somerset.
Having seen all around Dewstow, we then decided that since we were in Caerwent anyway, we'd have a quick look around the Roman remains there - go back 1,600 years, and this was Venta Silures, the largest Roman settlement in Wales. Most of the remains of this Roman town are now buried beneath the modern village of Caerwent, but the foundations of numerous ancient structures have been excavated.
Shops and houses - this was the poorer end of town in Roman days
Roman temple
Forum Basilica
And a slightly more up-market townhouse
Could have taken a stack more pics - Caerwent is absolutely littered with the remains of Roman structures. It's a really pretty little village, as well. Well worth a visit!
Today was nice, though. For one thing, it didn't rain. And for another, my Dad had heard of a new (to us) place to visit, and took us there. I was still feeling pretty under the weather all day, unable to eat, but still managed to enjoy myself.
We went to Dewstow, which is in Caerwent, Monmouthshire. And, for a little place tucked away behind a golf course, it is absolutely stunning - a gorgeous Victorian garden recently restored, stuffed full of grottoes and tunnels. Took loads of photos, which for the sake of everyone's f-lists I shall hide behind a cut.
Exploring the gardens
There are little streams everywhere, bridged by stepping stones - have to be careful not to slip!
Down into the grottoes
Garden in a barn
More tunnels leading to underground grotto gardens
Dewstow House
Southern Gardens and grottoes
Me! Just to prove I was there *G*
Southern view from the gardens, looking down at the Bristol Channel and across to northern Somerset.
Having seen all around Dewstow, we then decided that since we were in Caerwent anyway, we'd have a quick look around the Roman remains there - go back 1,600 years, and this was Venta Silures, the largest Roman settlement in Wales. Most of the remains of this Roman town are now buried beneath the modern village of Caerwent, but the foundations of numerous ancient structures have been excavated.
Shops and houses - this was the poorer end of town in Roman days
Roman temple
Forum Basilica
And a slightly more up-market townhouse
Could have taken a stack more pics - Caerwent is absolutely littered with the remains of Roman structures. It's a really pretty little village, as well. Well worth a visit!
