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6<br />
I LOVE WHERE I LIVE<br />
I love where I live…<br />
Caerwent<br />
With a fascinating history and beautiful setting, Caerwent also has a strong<br />
community, where volunteering runs deep, says postmistress Angelique Gittings,<br />
who enjoys running a business that’s at the hub of local life..<br />
When I was made redundant from my last job, six years ago,<br />
the opportunity arose to take over the Caerwent Post Office<br />
and shop, with accommodation. I loved how the former<br />
postmistress had transformed the shop and was really excited<br />
to take over and carry on the ethos of the Post Office being<br />
the heart of the community, supporting other local businesses<br />
in the process.<br />
What makes Caerwent unique?<br />
The Roman ruins are spectacular. Caerwent was an important<br />
town in the Roman era and had temples, shops, a forum<br />
and fortified walls surrounding the town. The foundations<br />
of many of the buildings have been excavated and are on<br />
display, looked after by CADW. The walls form a great walk<br />
around the village with spectacular views to Wentwood<br />
Forest and beyond and at night the Severn crossing is visible<br />
in the distance. The nearby forest has excellent trails for<br />
walking, riding and mountain biking.<br />
There is an army training base on the outskirts of the village<br />
on the former munitions factory site. They regularly train<br />
with helicopters and armoured vehicles lumbering into the<br />
village are a regular sight. It can give us some very load<br />
bangs at times but it soon becomes part of the soundscape of<br />
the village and not intrusive at all!<br />
For you, personally, what’s the best thing<br />
about living there?<br />
The community here is incredibly friendly and welcoming,<br />
especially if you have dogs. Sebastien, our Post Office cat<br />
holds his own with them, though and most know to give him<br />
a wide berth when he is on the forecourt!<br />
The community spirit was especially evident during the<br />
pandemic years. Volunteering runs deep in this village, as<br />
can be seen with the Caerwent Meadows project and the<br />
Village Hall and Playing Fields Association, as well as all the<br />
sports clubs. Villagers are very happy to give up their free<br />
time to help, especially for the youngsters, and to make the<br />
environment the best it can be for all of us.<br />
What, if anything, spoils it for you?<br />
Construction lorries using the village as a short cut and<br />
vehicles speeding through the village. It is a perennial<br />
problem that comes up in the community council meetings<br />
on a regular basis but is very difficult to solve.<br />
What sort of people does Caerwent attract? Is<br />
it a good place to bring up a family?<br />
Caerwent has a very mixed demographic with a good spread<br />
of ages. There are lots of parks and green spaces and familyfriendly<br />
facilities. It has a private nursery (Mathern Day<br />
nursery at Caerwent); the Baptist Chapel run Little Fishes, a<br />
baby and toddler group once a week in term time, and there<br />
is a Monmouthshire-run youth club in the community centre.
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