OS1/3/4/64
| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROMAN ROAD [Ayr parish] | Roman Road Roman Road |
Patterson's History Statistical Acct [Account] |
033 ; 039 | "The remains of the great Roman road leading from Galloway into Ayrshire are perfectly distinguishable, within a mile & a half of Ayr. These no one can have any difficulty in finding, who wishes to examine them. They lie to the southwest of Castlehill gardens behind the gardner's house, extending from near the avenue to the mansion, to the bottom of the hill to the southeast, and up the adjoining hill, passing close by the farmhouse of Breston. The features of this curious rem ant of antiquity are distinctly marked, and can hardly be mistaken. We have seen also a part of the same road in perfect preservation, many years ago, in the neighbourhood of Dalmellington, bearing similar features. From this point, it appears to have run to the east of the River Doon, by the farms of Ponessan, Boreland, etc on to near Cockhill, from which it had been continued in a straight line, past Castlehill, Storehill, Towlcauseway, to Ayr, which it entered by the ground opened for quarries at the head of the town, and ran along in the direction of what is now called Mill Street. In many parts of this course, distinct traces of it could be recognised till within a few years back, and there is reason to believe that, within little more than half a century ago, it formed the only road that was used for communication betwixt Ayr & Galloway & Dumfries shire. Whether it was brought to Ayr, from its being at that tine a town, a sea-port, or a military station, appears uncertain though one or other of these may probably have formed the motive. It is far from being likely that it was made to run in this direction either for shortness or convenience, since both the nearest and most level line to the Clyde, after passing Dalmellington, would have been by Old Cumnock, Irvine & Largs." Extracted from tatistical Account for Parish of Ayr. "The line of a roman road, supposed to have formed a communication between the Friths of Solway & Clyde, passes through this parish. Entering in at the eastern extremity, it passes through the farms of Polnessan, Smithston, Newfield, Boreland, Hollybush Mains and Causeway, which is supposed to have taken its name from this road. From Causeway it goes on to the farm of Perclewan, & passing through this and the farm of Lindston, it enters the parish of Ayr." Extracted from Statistical Account (1842) for Dalrymple Parish. "In Chalmer's Caledonia, notice is taken of a roman road which passed through the length of this parish, from Southeast to northwest. The line of it has been traced through Dumfries & Kirkcudbright shires. The last remains of it in this parish, on the farm of Burnhead, were raised 7 years ago to repair som dikes, which had formerly been built of the whinstone of which the road was formed. It had been from ten to eleven feet broad, composed of a row of large stones on either side, and filled up with Smaller between. Leaving Dalmellington it entered Dalrymple, where it has been traced in various places, and Terminated at a ford in the River Ayr, not a great distance above the town." Extracted from Statistical Account (Dalmellington Parish). |
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