OS1/13/27/74

Continued entries/extra info

74 Abernethy Parish. [Continued from page 73 - Notes on Fort (remains of)]

Fort--continued. Miller in his essay, as we have mentioned in the Parish of Strathmiglo, supposed to have been occupied by the army (Roman) previous to the supposed great battle fought in the plain below. The sides of this hill, except on the north east, where it is connected with the general range of the Ochils are steep and it rises about 400 feet from its base. The summit is surrounded by a chain of rocks, upwards of 300 yards in circum[ference], which forms a sort of natural citadel, and is still called the Fort.

It has besides been well fortified, and many of the stones used for that purpose have been brought from a great distance, upon clearing the ground for planting in 1828. the road leading to it, laid with stone, was laid open. The entrance on the east side was also discovered cut thro' the rock, and the pavement in the inside quite entire. Upon digging, many human bones were found both within and without the circum[ference] of it. Also the bones and teeth of horses. A little below the summit, and on the side facing the Lomond Hill, the slope was cut into terraces similar to those at [Markinch?] with the difference that these seem to have been faced with stone. They are now all levelled but one, which is used as a farm road. Although this fort may have been occupied by the Romans, there seems little reason to doubt that it had previously been a British fortress and that it had even subsequently been used by that people for the same purpose - Leighton's His. [History] of Fife, Vol. II page 206."

[Note] It is thought by every person who I have spoken to on the subject - to have been a Roman Camp - and has been called so (I have been informed) for ages.