Following the launch of trove.scot in February 2025 we are now planning the retiral of some of our webservices. Canmore will be switched off on 24th June 2025. Information about the closure can be found on the HES website: Retiral of HES web services | Historic Environment Scotland
Paisley, Woodside Cemetery
Earthwork (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Paisley, Woodside Cemetery
Classification Earthwork (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Ferguslie House
Canmore ID 43135
Site Number NS46SE 16
NGR NS 4679 6390
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/43135
- Council Renfrewshire
- Parish Paisley (Renfrew)
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Renfrew
- Former County Renfrewshire
NS46SE 16 4679 6390.
(NS 4679 6390) Supposed site of CAMP (R)
OS 1:500 map (1864)
Following Principal Dunlop, writing in the late 17th century (see NS46SE 4) the monument which occupied this site, at the W end of an area of elevated ground, adjoining Woodside Cemetery, was considered in the mid 19th century to have been a Roman camp, associated with NS46SE 4 and similar in appearance to NS46SE 3. Vestiges remained in the late 17th century, indicating that a rampart and ditch had enclosed an area slightly larger than that occupied by the probable fort described on NS46SE 4. However, by 1857, no traces remained, nor could any local informant recollect having seen any indications of an enclosure. three "small, crude earthen drinking cups", said to be Roman by a Paisley antiquarian, which had been found in the immediate neighbourhood by Mr Barr of Ferguslie Place several years before 1857 were in the possession of Mrs Barr in that year. The exact find spot could not be identified. There appears to be no real evidence for a Roman site at Paisley; NS46SE 3, with which this site is compared, and thought to be a Norman ringwork, or possibly of Iron Age date.
New Statistical Account (NSA) 1845; Name Book 1857
The area is now used as a cemetery, and no remains of an earthwork can be seen. The cemetery is situated at the top of a hill which has a steep slope to the N, and a more gradual one to the W, S and E.
Visited by OS (JHO) 31 March 1951
Field Visit (1954)
Earthwork, Ferguslie House (site).
Nothing now remains of any structure at the place marked "Supposed Site of Camp" on the 1865 edition of the OS map.
