OS1/9/14/67
| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Remains of WALL OF ANTONINUS PIUS (Continued) | Remains of Fosse or Ditch of Roman Wall continued | [continued from page 66] not more than from 3 to 4 feet above the edge of the Fosse, and this remains only at one part - near its southern extremity. The parallel course of the mound by the side of the Ditch and its appearance, though much broken, leave no doubt of its being the remains of the Wall, which the authority of the Revd. Dr. [Reverend Doctor] Sym and the following description from the Cal. [Caledonia] Romana confirm. - "We pass from E. [East] Kilpatrick to cross the Milngavie Road, and afterwards ascend to Ferguston Muir where the hollow of the Ditch is to be seen in considerable perfection, with, immediately to the south of it, some feeble traces of the rampart itself". (P. [Page] 310) Farther on the latter authority makes mention in an extract from a writer (Horsly) on the Wall of Antoninus, that in 1730 at this place (Ferguston Muir), "the foundation of the wall the under course of which had been composed of stone, was to be traced for nearly a mile from the middle of the Muir in direction of Summerston. This foundation was 12 feet broad and had drains or conduits formed in it for the escape of water ". (P. [Page] 311) There is nothing to be seen now of this work, nor is there anything known of it in the neighborhood. Traces of the Fort at N. [New] Kilpatrick, similar to the remains of the Ditch, have been adopted upon the best authorities & shewn after the same manner as the Remains of the Ditch. All traces of the Fort at Castlehill are entirely effaced, a circular belt of Plantation now enclosing what is well known to be the site of this Station. Of the Military Way throughout the Parish there is little known correctly, what has been pointed out being, with a single exception, long ago converted into Parish & other Roads, leaving no clear traces of the Causeway, and the information obtained being very indefinite as to the extent which the Way occupied of or on these roads (See N.S. [Name Sheet] of M.W. [Military Way]). Every part of the Remains of the Ditch, as well as the other antiquities connected with it - Forts & Military Way, have been identified on the ground from place to place by the best authorities to be had. There is but one place in the Parish - at Castlehill, where one of those Stones, bearing what is called a "Legionary Inscription", is known to have been found, although numbers bearing similar records &c., have been got on the line of Wall in N. [New] Kilpatrick. The line has been followed from west to east, in parts, as follows, upon the several authorities quoted for each portion. The Remains of the Fosse or Ditch where it crosses the western Boundary of the Parish over "Cleddin Burn" (Trace 1.23-15) coming from the Fort at Duntocher in O. [Old] Kilpatrick Ph. [Parish], is in good preservation as it ascends "Hutcheson Hill", and as far as "Peel Glen". This part as pointed out by Mr. J Alexander & W. Barclay of Castelhill & N. [North] Hutcheson, is very distinct particularly the south side of the Ditch on the top of the hill, where it runs along the edge of the ridge-like form of the hill as it descends northwards. The part described also corresponds with the description in the Cal. [Caledonia] Romana P. [Page] 301, which says, "Immediately on leaving that little stream (Cleddin Burn) we come upon the excavation of the Fosse in tolerable perfection. It may here be followed, more or less distinct for about the third part of a mile, through the cultivated fields of a rising ground called Hutcheson Hill. At the end of this track its vestiges become again almost obliterated - scarcely visible in crossing Peel Glen and barely to be distinguished as, from that low position, it mounts the steep ascent of the Castle Hill, on the summit of which stood what we shall call the third of the Wall Stations". (The first & second stations - Chapelhill & Duntocher, tracing the course of the Wall from the west, are in O. [Old] Kilpatrick Ph. [Parish]). Pages 301 & 302 (Cal. [Caledonia] Romana) there is mention made of a stone pavement in the bed of the stream through Peel Glen being visible, and which is supposed to be the remains or foundation of an ancient Bridge, but it is not to be seen now. There is nothing known either of a Castellum which "Roy imagined he could perceive some traces of in 1755". The people of the neighborhood, generally believe that the wall took a horse-shoe form in crossing Peel Glen. In the last quotation from the Romana there are chequered stones spoken of, as belonging to the supposed Bridge at the glen being seen built into the houses near. These stones, as if wrought with a pick, are to be seen at different parts of the line of Wall in N. [New] Kilpatrick, particularly at "Thorn", Castelhill, & the "Temple", as well as at "Peel Glen"; they are lying loosely about the fields or in the hedges. The old Ph. [Parish] Road south of the Wall on Hutcheson Hill, which was formerly the high road to Dumbarton is said to be on the M. [Military] Way, but its extent - i.e. the M. [Military] Way on it, is of course very indefinite. From Peel Glen, as pointed out by the last authorities quoted, as well as Mr. Main of Windyhill, to the "Thorn" Steading (Trace 6-23-11), passing the Fort of Castlehill of which no traces exist, the Fosse varies as represented. A short distance to the west side of the site of the Fort, & in the south side of the Ditch, as shewn by Mr. Alexander , (marked on Trace) a stone bearing an Inscription was dug up about 5 or 6 years ago. It is now in the possession of Mr. Buchanan of the Western Bank. The hollow between the points last described is not deep until it comes to the strip of plantation near "Thorn", where it becomes bold & steep to the depth of 4 or 5 feet in passing across an angular form of the strip. The small steep slopes falling inwards from the fences, as represented in crossing the plantation, is the deep part, and the slope shewn on the outside of the Plantation in the arable ground, is the south side of the Ditch as it appears now from the same causes which have spread the width of the Ditch at other places in arable ground - the plough. The outer or north side of the Ditch appears to have been originally not so deep as the inner side. This appears to be accounted for here by the Wall running along the brow of a ridge which falls immediately from the Ditch to the outer, or north side. It has been observed that where the Wall ran in a similar position at other places - as at the Fort of New Kilpatrick (Trace 1.23-16) where the south side of the Ditch (if there were a north side ?) is along the top of the steep bank which falls to the north to the Burn below, that [continued on page 68] |
Continued entries/extra info
[Page] 67Co. [County] Dumbarton & Stirling -- New Kilpatrick Parish
[Beside description:]
Legionary Stone
found here, 1860
Transcribers who have contributed to this page.
Alison James- Moderator, Jim-B
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