Caerleon has a long history with the only constant being change. From myths and legends through to Netflix blockbuster TV Shows. In Caerleon’s history there are stories of king Arthur settling here, but the most obvious piece of history is the Roman settlement with its fortress, baths, barracks and amphitheatre some of the best preserved in Britain.
This varied history has driven a strong tourist industry. This was the reason for my first visit to Caerleon as a child to run down the grassy banks of the amphitheatre, as a Roman Legionnaire.
As a young adult the University of Wales, College Newport brought me back to Caerleon as a student of photography. Starting as a technical college in the early twentieth century and growing to University status in 1990’s. The thousands of students supported both the Cearleon community and Newport the third largest town in Wales. This support from the students can be judged by the survival of 14 public houses in Caeleon alone.
In the twenty first century the campus was shutdown and sold for the development of new housing. Although killing off the student population of this town, dropping its size by 1,000 people over night, it ushered in a new era. The grade II listed building was saved from demolition and subsequently became the filming location for “Sex Education”, the Netflix series launched in 2019.
