The
Caerleon Tramroad
This marker for the Caerleon Tramroad now stands outside Caerleon Endowed School. It was found in the River Afon Lwyd at Llantarnam.
Caerleon Tramroad was probably one of the earliest iron railed tramroads to be built in the area - it embraced the latest technology of the time and must have represented a considerable investment for those involved in its construction. Nowadays one has to look hard to discover evidence that it ever existed - even though parts of it were still in use until about 130 years ago. This is in marked contrast to the wealth of Roman artefacts and remains to be seen. However, it could be argued that without the tramroad, just as without the Romans, Caerleon would now be a very different place…

When was it built?
Who built it?
Why was it built?
What did it look like?
What was its route?
What did it cost to build?
How was it operated?
When (and why) did it close?
What is left of it now?
How did it affect Caerleon?
References

The illustration above comes from "Portraits of the Past" by Chris Barber and Michael Blackmore, published by Blorenge Books. Though not actually a picture of the Caerleon Tramroad, it gives a good impression of how it would have appeared. The tramroad passed under the road heading North out of Caerleon to Pontypool through a bridge which still remains.
Left, the old quay in 1847. With a beady eye you can just make out the tramroad.
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