Usk (Welsh: Brynbuga) is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Newport.

It developed as a small market town, with some industry including the making of Japanware, and with a notable prison built in 1841–42.

[citation needed] William Camden recorded that the town's English name derives from Caer-usk (the Caer or Castrum on the River Usk).

[3] The Roman legionary fortress of Burrium was founded on the River Usk by the military commander Aulus Didius Gallus, around AD 55.

However, by around 75 AD, its disadvantages had become apparent and the Romans relocated their permanent military base further south to Caerleon, leaving only a small auxiliary fort and civilian settlement at Usk.

It descended in the female line to Lionel Duke of Clarence, the son of Edward III and through him to Mortimer Earl of March, Marshal of England.

In 1544 it became part of the dowry of Queen Katherine Parr and on the death of Catherine it was granted by Edward VI to the Earl of Pembroke.

His chronicle records the 'Welsh Revolt' in 1403, when Owain Glyndŵr burned Usk to the ground while gaining control of much of South Wales from the English under King Henry IV and his son, later to become King Henry V. The important Battle of Pwll Melyn in 1405 occurred immediately north of Usk Castle, when English forces routed their Welsh opponents, causing much loss of life, including that of Owain's brother Tudur.

[9] The Great House of the town, later subdivided into smaller units, was built on Old Market Street in the mid-16th century for the Williams family.

[4][5] In 1621 the wealthy Midlands wool merchant Roger Edwards, the owner of Allt-y-Bela in Llangwm, founded Usk Grammar School.

[10] The first stone bridge at Usk, replacing one of wood, was built to the designs of Welsh architect William Edwards.

[12] From the late 18th century, Usk became well known for the high quality of its japanware,[4] a process of decorating metals by applying a lacquer to tinplate.

However output declined with changing fashions in the 19th century, and the last Usk japanware was produced in 1860 on the site of what is now Bunning's builders' merchants.

[15] The BBC reported in May 2014 that Wales' rarest tree, Ley's Whitebeam (Sorbus leyana), would be planted in Usk to honour the man who rediscovered them, Peter Charlesworth.

[16] The parish church of St Mary originated as part of the Benedictine priory founded by Richard de Clare in the 12th century.

The Rural Life Museum is housed in a former malt barn, possibly of mediaeval origin, on New Market Street.

The voluntary committee aims to improve the local environment by the imaginative planting of trees, shrubs, bulbs and floral displays; and to foster partnerships with other organisations and residents for work on environmental issues in the town.

In 1679 Usk was the site of the martyrdom of Jesuit father David Lewis, who was hanged for his alleged part in the fictitious Popish Plot conspiracy of Titus Oates.

[38] In 1823 Llanbadoc, just across the river from Usk, was the birthplace of Alfred Russel Wallace, a notable proponent of the theory of evolution.

In November 2021 Bill Bailey, a fervent admirer, unveiled a bust of Wallace, sculpted by Felicity Crawley, in Twyn Square.

About 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Usk is the 1,000-acre (400 ha) site of the munitions production facility of BAE Systems at Glascoed.