OS1/34/3/23

Continued entries/extra info

[page] 23

Brief Account of Antiquities, etc
in the Parish of Abercorn

The Roman Wall or "Vallum (1) Antonini" connecting the Firth of
Forth and Clyde has been styled by writers the "wall of Abercorn"
It is however matter of dispute whether that line of defence extended
so far east. Sir Robert Sibbald indeed writing from his own
observation and Ponts former Survey says that the wall passed
Abercorn and terminated at the laird of Manner's Windmill which
occupied an abrupt eminence at the commencement of the eastern approach
to Hopetoun House where traces of escarpment are still visible.
Bede however states that the wall terminated at Peanfahel or
Penneltum distant about two Roman miles from the monastery of
Abercurnig. This language would apparently determine Blackness
as the Peanfahel or head of the wall. A prolongation or outwork
may have been at some period continued along the coast as far
as the "Windmill Knowe" (2). The remains of the monastery at Abercorn
have wholly disappeared. Some foundations of buildings and
a mass of deep black loam of limitted extent in the vicinity of
the church are the only traces hitherto found. The site of the
Castle of Abercorn (3) is marked by a green mound the ruins having
been carefully removed at the dictate of the taste prevailing
when the Hopetoun pleasure grounds were first laid out. The situation
was singularly strong accessible from the east by a narrow neck of
high ground. but surrounded on all other sides with steep banks
(4) Midhope House. A building of considerable age is in tolerable
preservation. -- New Stat. Acct. [Statistical Account]

(5) In the wood of Abercorn there is a coarse stone Standing on end
which tradition intimates to have been the appropriate site of ancient
meetings. -- Chalmers Caledonia

(6) There appears to have been an ancient British Fort on the
top of Binn's Hill -- Ibid [as above]

Abercorn Castle was built by by the Earl of Douglas on the
site of the ancient monastery (7) -- Goughs Camden 3. [page] 318 quoted by Chalmers

(8) The Romans were probably the first makers of roads in this
shire. A military way accompanied the wall of Antonine for the