Excavations at 10 Old Market Street, Usk

Modern Usk is a small market town situated within the county of Gwent on the east bank of the River Usk at its confluence with the tributary River Olway, and on the flood plain of both rivers. It lies at a height of c. 17 m O D, on a major bridging-point of the River Usk, and commands two natural routeways. The first, formed by the valley of the Usk itself, runs from the central highlands of southern Wales around Brecon, south-eastwards to Abergavenny and Usk, and from there southwards to reach the sea at Newport. The second, minor, route follows the valley of the Olway north-east to Raglan.