River Usk - in History and Legend

In History and Legend

The River Usk has played an important role both in the history of South Wales, and features in some local folk-tales.

Historically, the tidal reaches of the Usk has been used as a major shipping port for much of the last millennium, mostly because of its wide and deep mouth, and good navigable access from the Severn estuary and the Bristol Channel and thence access to home waters and further overseas.

Evidence of the Usk's long-standing use in transport and trade came in the form of the remains of the Newport ship which were unearthed in July 2002. The medieval ship, dated to around 1465, was most likely a trading ship, and may have sailed around Europe or even beyond in its lifetime. Its presence in the Usk has confirmed what an important trading route the Usk must have provided to the many towns and villages along its route.

The Usk has also played a role in many local legends. The Medieval Latin text The Rise of Gawain, Nephew of Arthur recounts a humorous tale in which an incognito Gawain pushes his uncle King Arthur into the Usk, and is then forced to explain to his wife Gwendoloena (Guinevere) why he is so wet.

Geoffrey of Monmouth writes of Caerleon in the mid 12th century:

For it was located in a delightful spot in Glamorgan, on the River Usk, not far from the Severn Sea. Abounding in wealth more than other cities, it was suited for such a ceremony. For the noble river I have named flows along it on one side, upon which the kings and princes who would be coming from overseas could be carried by ship." (Historia Regum Britanniae "History of the Kings of Britain")

It is not until the 13th century French prose romances that Camelot began to supersede Caerleon, and even then, many descriptive details applied to Camelot derive from Geoffrey's earlier grand depiction of the Welsh town."

The valley of the Usk contains many sites of archaeological significance from prehistory and the valley has long been a trade route, settlement area and suitable avenue into Wales for successive invaders such as the Romans and Normans.

The Newport Transporter Bridge, the lowest crossing point on the river, has the greatest length of any surviving transporter bridge in the world.