OS1/9/10/45
| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remains of Fosse or Ditch of Roman Wall (Continued | 024 ; 025 | many, if not all the Stations, were either revetted with stone or entirely built of that material. In some places it would even appear that the Vallum itself had been raised upon a stone foundation - probably in situations where the ground was low & marshy, & where it was necessary to form drains beneath the works to prevent the accumulation of water on their interior side. Genl. [General] Roy supposes the Ditch to have constituted the chief strength of the whole, and seems to consider the agger itself as having been of very secondary importance. He was evidently led to this opinion from the insignificant appearance which even the best preserved of its sections presented when he saw them; it must, however, be remembered, as a circumstance highly probable, that the rampart was, in course of time, much more liable to be demolished than the fosse to be filled up - hence, perhaps, the distinct appearance of the one compared with that of the other." Caledonia Romana The Remains of the Fosse or Ditch of the Roman Wall in this Parish, better known to the country people as "Graham's Heugh" and "Graham's Dyke" are, upon the whole, in a very imperfect state. On "Bar Hill" the best preserved parts remain, & here the Fosse has been in many places defaced. Where the hollow of the Ditch is to be seen almost every person in the neighborhood knows it; but where no remains are to be seen, the site is but imperfectly, if at all, correctly known: and if a person in the locality who is said to have a knowledge of its course be referred to for pointing it out, it is at once seen that the greater part of his, or their, information is founded upon conjecture, which, although it may in most cases be pretty correct from keeping the straight line between portions remaining on either side, it has been found unsafe to adopt the site upon such authority with any degree of certainty or of satistaction. There is but one place in the Parish where the remains of the Rampart or wall exist. This is in a plantation close to the Ditch on the east side of "Bar Hill". There is nothing known of this in the locality but its appearance plainly shows what it has been by the slight ridge sloping faintly from the top; and the different nature of the soil composing the Remains. At no part of the Parish do any Remains of the "Military Way" which kept by the south of the wall exist; & there seems to be but one place where any information respecting it is to to be had in this Parish - at Whitehill (Trace 2 25-5) as stated upon the authority of Mr. Gillys & Mr. G. Buchanan, where a Roman Sword was found beneath the Causeway. The plough is here impeded in passing over this part, but not the least trace of a causeway is to be seen upon the surface of the ground. The Remains of the Forts of Barhill and Auchindavy - the latter Fort is but slightly remaining, are shewn as they at present stand. The Fort of Kirkintilloch, better known as the "Peel", is the best preserved of the Roman Remains in the Parish. The "Peel" is on the 1/500 Scale. - The appearance of the Fosse in this Parish presents five different shades - as in the Parish of Cumbernauld (Which see), and in order to insure their perfect representation, each shade has been numbered on the Examination Traces suitable to their respective parts. Care has also been taken throughout to shew the precise extent of the hollow as it appears at the present day (1859). Those parts numbered 1 represent the faintest parts of the Ditch, shewing the proper top & the bottom of the hollow, which is just definable. The parts Nod. [numbered] 2 are a little deeper than those of No. 1; 3 has a better defined top & is still deeper; 4 is nearly equal to an ordinary cutting - on a Railway, for instance, but not quite so steep or regular on the top; 5 is a well defined & steep slope. This index is also applicable to the remains of the Forts in this Parish, but it may here be stated that no parts of the Forts approach the greatest steepness of the Fosse or Ditch by within two shades, and this only occurs in the "Bar Hill Fort", in two cases. |
Continued entries/extra info
[Page] 45Co. [County] Dumbarton -- Kirkintilloch Parish
Transcriber's notes
Continued from page 44Continued on page 46
Transcribers who have contributed to this page.
Alison James- Moderator
Location information for this page.
