USK

Usk (Welsh: Brynbuga) is a small town in Monmouthshire, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport. The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at the southern entrance to the town.

Usk was founded in 55AD as a Roman settlement and was a thriving market town through Victorian times. The current population is less than 2,500 and the town is known for its unusually abundant supply of pubs and restaurants. Many people will make the 10-mile drive from Newport for a quiet meal away from the bustle of the city. The main street is a very narrow collection of old houses and businesses (some dating back to the 15th century), and passes a tranquil town square.

FAMOUS

Henry Vaughan - Poet

Adam of Usk
Adam, born in Usk in 1360, is best known to us as an important chronicler of his times. He was a 'man of letters' - a lawyer, lecturer and historian; but it was as a priest that he especially prospered. His fame brought him a meeting with Pope Boniface IX, after which he rose to a high office in the Church in Britian and Rome. Along with several arch-deaconries, Adam became the 'Auditor of the Palace and Judge of the City of the World'.

Image produced from the Ordnance Survey Get-a-map service. Image reproduced with kind permission of Ordnance Survey and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.