OS1/14/70/37

List of names as written Various modes of spelling Authorities for spelling Situation Description remarks
LAWS HILL Laws Hill James Neish Esqr.
R Arklay Esqr.
James Webster
051 [Situation] In the western portion of the parish
Upon the hill of Laws, near the middle of the parish, are the remains of an ancient vitrified fort. A low wall seems to have encircled the top of the hill which is flat 130 yards in length by 66 in breadth. The hill itself is a green Cone terminating a long ridge. At the bottom of this Cone spear heads of iron with bones of men and horses have lately been dug up. About 50 years ago two workmen came upon the foundation of a building at the bottom of the Cone and found a considerable treasure of gold Coin. They concealed their prize went to London and sold it as bullion.
New Stat: [Statistical] Account
James Neish Esqr., the proprietor, told me that in excavating the top of the hill he found human skulls, rudes stone coffins, Boars tusks, spear heads, Battle axes, and a large quantity of charred grain, he did not find any coins and never knew of any having been found. The foundations of the fort are laid bare being composed of a number of circular sunk walls. The low wall mentioned in the New Stat: [Statistical] Account, which formerly encircled the top of the hill has disappeared, but its foundation at the east of the hill is still visible, and marked on trace.
VITRIFIED FORT (Remains of) [Laws Hill] Vitrified Fort (Remains of)
Vitrified Fort (Remains of)
Vitrified Fort (Remains of)
Vitrified Site
Mr. Smith Schoolmaster Monifieth
Mr. James Webster Kingennie
R. Arkley Esqr. Ethiebeaton
James Neish Esqr. - Laws
051 [Situation] On the summit of Laws Hill
Upon the hill of Laws near the middle of the parish, are the remains of an ancient vitrified fort. A low wall seems to have encircled the top of the hill which is flat 130 yards in length by 66 in breadth. The hill itself is a green cone terminating a long ridge. At the bottom of this cone spear heads of iron with bones of men and horses have lately been dug up. About 50 years ago two workmen came upon the foundation of a building at the bottom of the cone and found a considerable treasure of gold coin. They concealed their prize went to London and sold it as bullion. New Stat: Account
James Neish Esqr., the proprietor, told me that in excavating the top of the hill he found human skulls, rude stone coffins, Boars tusks, spear heads, Battle axes, and a large quantity of charred grain. he did not find any coins and never knew of any having been found. The foundations of the fort are laid bare being composed of a number of circular sunk walls. The low wall mentioned in the New Stat: Account, which formerly encircled the top of the hill has disappeared, but its foundation at the east of the hill is still visible, and marked on trace.

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 37
Parish of Monifieth -- Sheet 51 Plan 13 Trace 2

Vitrified Fort [note]
Near the centre of the fort appears a circular area about 50 links
in diameter The rubbish of earth and stones have been lately dug out of it by
the proprietor and the floor of it laid bare. It appears to have been
roughly paved with flag stones among which appears ashes and fine
sand. The floor is about 3 feet or so below the surrounding
surface, there is an entrance on the SE [South East] side. The wall enclosing this area
appears to have been about 20 links thick built without lime or any
kind of cement and generally of large unhewn or undressed stones. What
its original use has been is not now easily ascertained. Perhaps
it was a dwelling house of the earliest age, of the same age as
those called Picts Houses if so it must have been a very large
one of the kind.
[continued on page 36]

[Page signed]
John Picton

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