By the time the Romans arrived in 55 AD, there had been a scattered settlement of Iron Age farmers working in the water meadows (behind the prison) of the Usk valley who were probably living in their round huts somewhere near the site of the present Llangeview church.

The Roman construction camp (the modern ‘Wimpy depot’) was on the flat-topped hill above Casey’s Court. Their fortress ‘Burrium’ (see map) was the regimental depot of the first pacification of South Wales. Full of officers headquarters, granaries, hospitals, barracks, baths, stables, and forges, it was occupied until 65 AD when the Legion, (of 6,000 men, plus auxiliary workers were employed in Wales) having persuaded the local population to behave themselves, withdrew to their fortress near Gloucester. They left behind a small holding force in a much reduced defended area (from the Kings Head to Mill Street, Maryport St. and the back of Ty Mawr)

The civilian population which grew up around the fort remained until about 300 AD, latterly mainly occupied in the smelting of iron. There was a ready market for this from the Roman army which had returned in 75AD and built a permanent base at Caerleon which was on a navigable part of the river.