OS1/9/15/85

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 85

County Dumbarton -- Old Kilpatrick Parish

Remains of Roman Wall continued

[continued from page 84]
about a century ago, some portion of the
latter was visible on the grounds of Glenarback, within half a mile
of Dunglass. The present Turnpike Road passes, most probably, very
near to what was the line of the Via". From the following statement there would appear to have been Stations or Forts
between that of Chapel Hill & Dunglass of which there is nothing now known - at least in the neighborhood. "The ruins
of Dunglass Castle have long been regarded as resting upon the foundations of a Roman Fort, perhaps they do, in reality, occupy the
site of one of the ancient Castella; but that any traces of Roman masonry are still to be found there, as is sometimes averred,
we must be permitted very much to doubt. Between this spot & the village of Kilpatrick, the high lands approach so closely
to the north bank of the river, that it must have cost the Roman Soldiery much unceasing vigilance to prevent the natives from
crossing it at any of the numerous fords which are supposed to have existed above Dunglass; from this circumstance, it is by no
means unlikely that some additional forts may have stood between that rocky point and the termination of the Wall."
One of those Tumuli, which, in the words of the author of the Caledonia Romana, "Some authors, however -
Professor Anderson among the rest - have been inclined to discover (as) the remains of Agricola's Forts in a number
of artificial mounds situated at some distance beyond the Wall", is spoken of as being upon the banks of a
stream called "Cresswick Water", which flows from the heights to the westward of Kilpatrick" (Page 283) "It was
of a circular form, 60 feet in height; and was, at the distance of a few hundred yards completly overlooked, if not
altogether commanded, by the adjoining hills". There is not a stream in Kilpatrick known as "Cresswick Water"
to any Proprietor, Agent, or resident between Kilpatrick village & the western Boundary of the Parish near to Dumbarton.
A small insignificant streamlet flows from Glenarbuck - the first west of Kilpatrick village, but it bears no name;
the next is "Auchentorlie Burn", at Littlemill or Bowling; and the last, of consequence, excepting "Garshake Burn", the
Parish Boundary, is "Milton Burn". None of these streams have ever borne the name of Cresswick Water so
far as can be ascertained from the Proprietors & the Factors who have or would have some recollection of such
a name from the Title Deeds if, as might be, the name had been changed in the course of time. Unless the
the "Remains of the supposed ancient Watch Tower" on Dumbowie, at the back of Dumbuck, be the Tumulus
referred to, there is not another in the Parish in any way answering the description given; and the height of the
Mound on "Dumbowie", as well as its being "commanded by the adjoining hills, & situated on the banks of a stream"
will not answer the description either. "Dumbowie" (Traces 1 & 4. 22-7) is not commanded nearer than the
"Lang Craig" to the north (22-3 & 7). This Tumulus was, upon the authority of the 'Romana, seen by Gordon
about the year 1726. ___ No distinct traces of the Chapel Hill Station exist at the present time (1861) although
it is, by the Country people, regarded as artificial from the sandy nature of the soil it is composed of. It has not
the appearance of an artificial mound or hill. A steep well defined slope bounds & encloses the south side of the hill, which is
gives it an artificial look. In 1790 when excavating the base of Chapel Hill for the Forth & Clyde Canal a subterranean
recess, as stated in the Romana, was found containing a number of earthen vases and Roman coins. There is no spot
known on the site of the Station as remarkable for anything being discovered. At Sandyford a Stone upon the authority
of the Old Statl: [Statistical] Account, was used as a foot bridge over the Burn there. It is now in the garden of Mountblow, where,
as stated by Mr Patterson of Mountblow, it was removed to about a century ago by a former Proprietor - Provost Donald. The old
Statistical Account compares it to the obelisks near Brechin, called the Danish Stones of Aberlemno; and in the "Origines Parochiales"
it is called a Sculptured Cross. The Stone is upwards of 6 feet high & is sunk some length in the ground to support it as it stands
upright. In breadth it is about 18 inches or 2 feet. On the Farm of Auchentoshan, in an enclosure called the "Ocean
Field", remains, particularly of Roman Pottery, have been found, and this field is well known to the country
people as the place where Roman remains have been found. A little to the East of the Ocean Field a Stone Coffin was
discovered at the place marked on the Examination Trace, as pointed out by Mr. Wright, Duntocher, and the Skull of the Skeleton, which
[continued on page 86]

[In left hand margin toward bottom of page, alongside description of Stone found:]
?
Legionary Stone

Ocean Field
and
Stone Coffin found here
See page 113.

[In right hand margin beside line in which the word Legionary has been deleted before Stone:]
Legionary
stone