OS1/29/31/2
| List of names as written | Various modes of spelling | Authorities for spelling | Situation | Description remarks |
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| OXNAM | [Continued from Page 1] interior. The Parish in its general appearance exhibits many striking varieties of hill and dale, well subdivided enclosures, excellent pasturage and numerous streams of water of which latter the most important are Jed Water, which traces for about 1 3/4 mile the Wn. [Western] boundary - running N.W. by N. [North West by North] to River Teviot, Oxnam Water which rises in the Southern district and running N.N.W. [North North West] also to the Teviot - forms for some distance the Wn. [Western] boundary and Kale Water which rises near the extreme south and runs N.E. [North East] for nearly four miles to Hownam Parish. Neither Turnpike Road nor Railway traverses the Parish. There is no particular branch of manufacture carried on - Coal and Lime-stone are said to exist which have not however been wrought - the former being merely indicated by local Strata and the latter existing under a very deep cover near Jed Water. There is neither Town nor Village only Oxnam a hamlet in the Northern district and near which is situate the Parish Church a plain Stone building - there is also a Parish School about 1 1/2 mile S.-E. [South-East] The principal proprietors are the Marquis of Lothian and the Duke of Roxburgh. Population at the last Census 669. The great middle Roman Road from England into Scotland called Watling Street enters this Parish at Brownhart Law on the Cheviot Hills, running N.N.W. [North North West] and passing what appears from indications on the ground to have been a large Roman Camp - it forms for the most part the boundary between Oxnam and Hownam. This road is supposed to have been regularly paved which is confirmed by stones larger than the rest being found inserted closely and in a continued line along the middle of it - by the number of stones protruding through the grass which covers its surface and from the great quantity of mixed sizes observable where it is marshy; and where it is constructed over dry sloping ground its originally raised and rounded appearance is still very entire. It is still kept open but is only used as a Drove Road. Distinct vestiges of this Roman Way may be traced at intervals from Brownhart Law to Caridden or Caeriden a village on the Firth of Forth in Linlithgowshire. The Camp above referred to is situate on a prominent eminence in the S.En. [South Eastern] district called Pennymuir Rig. it is a quadrangular figure with slightly rounded corners the vallum and fosse are carried outward at right angles so as to include an additional oblong space of considerable extent. The traverses covering the entrances and ramparts are still extant and well defined except at the S.W. [South West] and N.E. [North East] The superficial area of this Roman Camp is upwards of 32 3/4 acres. See Description of Hownam. On Cunzierton Hill there are distinct vestiges of a British Fort consisting of a strong rampart with double trenches and a little to the South of it an additional line of defence is visible. Indistinct traces of another Fort may be seen on The Law near the central district. In the Northern district there is a knoll called Galla Knowe (a corruption of Gallows) which is recognised as an ancient Moat. At the East side of Parish there is a small Druidical Circle completely defined by large stones. This district was formerly noted for its castellated edifices or baronial towers every vestige of which has now disappeared and only the Sites of a few can now be pointed out. A Chapel - the Site and Cemetery of which have been shewn - stood at Plenderleith towards the Southern district. April 1859. |
Continued entries/extra info
[Page] 2Parish of Oxnam -- County of Roxburgh.
Transcribers who have contributed to this page.
Trondragirl- Moderator, Douglas Montgomery
Location information for this page.
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