Quay Wall and Slip at the Hanbury Arms

Cadw's description

Location

To the south of The Hanbury Arms along the river frontage.

History

The quay is possibly mid C18, the slip appears to have been built separately and later. It marked the high point of navigation on the river Usk which was blocked by the timber bridge immediately upstream of the quay. When the new Caerleon Bridge (qv) was built below the quay in 1806-12 it marked the end of Caerleon as a port as the larger ships could no longer reach it, but it had already been by-passed by the new docks in Newport, and their direct access to the industrial areas inland via the Monmouthshire Canal which had opened in 1799, and the early tramroads. The opening of the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal in 1812 made matters worse, but the last cargo did not leave Caerleon until 1896.

Exterior

The structure is built of coursed squared rock-faced local sandstone rubble with dressed copings. The quay is now mostly tarmac but the stone probably survives underneath this. The slip is stone paved. The quay is about 30m in length and about 4m in height. The slip is about 20m in length and about 2m in height and across.

Reason for designation

Included as the historic Caerleon Quay, and having group value with The Hanbury Arms, the medieval tower and Caerleon Bridge.