OS1/10/40/1B

Continued entries/extra info

On Mortonmuir's Hill the remains of a strong entrenchment are yet visible pronounced by locals generally as having been of Roman Construction. Both The Old and New Statistical Accounts of Parish also notice it as such. "At a short distance North-West of the Castle and on the other side of the Glen are the remains of a strong fortification which seems to have been a Roman fort or Castellum still called by the Name of Deer Camp; it about two miles North of Tibbers, Tiberii Castra, the great Roman Station in the Parish of Penpont; a Station well chosen to guard against incursions from recesses of the Mountains on the North and North-East (see Page 20) About ¾ mile West of Above are also visible remains of Another entrenchment likewise set down by locals of Roman origin The dimensions of this Camp are small but its square formation might favor the supposition of its having been a Roman Post-Castra Aestiva - capable of holding from 20 to 100. See Page 16. But the most important circumstance for supposing these Camps of Roman origin is the fact of the Roman Road having traversed the district as noticed by Gen[eral] Roy and other Antiquarians and whereby it would appear to have crossed Carron Water near Carronbridge where the branches diverged respectively towards Ayrshire via Tiberii Castra and towards Clydesdale via Wall Path in Durisdeer. Particular enquiries have been made in locality A few people have pointed out that which is from existing features and uncharacteristic sinuosities not the Roman Road but evidently only an Old fence which enclosed a deer park during the occupancy of Morton Castle by Thomas Randolph Earl of Murray (See Pages 20 & 25) Although scarcely ½ remains of the original fortalice ?in Morton now exist, these are still noble and have been considered the most perfect ruin of the kind in this part of the Country. The existing remains extend to upwards of 100 feet in length by 30 in width. The wall of the South front is almost entire, which from the foundation is about 40 feet high, having on the top at each corner a large round tower about 12 feet in diameter. The walls are from 8 to 10 feet thick (see Page 45) It gave the title of Earl to James Douglas Lord of Dalkeith, promoted to be Earl of Morton by James I in 1458. This honour being forfeited by the above Earls grandson, was again revived in the person of Sir William Douglas of Lochlevin. This Castle however seems to have been of higher Antiquity having belonged, as is said to Dunenald, the predecessor of Thomas Randolph Earl of Murray: and having been disponed in the reign of Robert I to Douglas of Morton. It was dismantled by David II on his return from England according to agreement with Edward III. About 300 yards South from Castle is a slight elevation which may have been used either as a beacon post or lookout station