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Bridgeness
Distance Slab (Roman), Plaque (Late 19th Century)
Site Name Bridgeness
Classification Distance Slab (Roman), Plaque (Late 19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Bridgeness Slab
Canmore ID 49554
Site Number NT08SW 4
NGR NT 0137 8151
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/49554
- Council Falkirk
- Parish Bo'ness And Carriden
- Former Region Central
- Former District Falkirk
- Former County West Lothian
NT08SW 4 0137 8151.
(Name: NT 0126 8150) Legionary Tablet found here
16th April 1868 (NAT)
OS 6"map, Linlithgowshire, 2nd ed., (1913)
(NT 0137 8151) Roman Distance Slab found 1868 (NAT)
OS 25"map, (1972)
A Roman 'distance slab' broken in three places was found in April 1868 in front of the rocky promontory on which Bridgeness Tower stands. Mr Cadell, who was present when the find was made, records that it was discovered lying face down, under a few inches of soil, at a point 19ft above the level of the ordinary spring tides. It had evidently been carefully laid there, over a hollow in the soil, and covered over. He donated the slab to the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS Accession no: FV 27) on condition that a plaque recording the discovery by erected near the find-spot.
The slab is 9ft 2ins long by 2ft 11ins high and commemorates the completion of some four miles of the Antonine Wall by the 2nd Legion. Close to the find-spot, an old dry-stone dyke of squared freestone such as the Romans used in constructing their permanent camps was found, extending for a few feet like a rough retaining wall round the face of the promontory, about 5 or 6ft below the flat ground under the table (H M Cadwell 1913).
H M Cadwell 1871; 1913; G Macdonald 1925; RCAHMS 1929; R W Feachem 1967.
A commemorative plaque at NT 0137 8151 in the roadside wall states that the slab was discovered "near this spot on 29th April 1868" otherwise the precise site was not confirmed.
Visited by OS (D S) 25 January 1957.
The design of this slab is fully described and discussed by Phillips.
E J Phillips 1975.
Artefact Recovery (16 April 1868)
NT 0126 8150 Legionary Tablet found here
A Roman 'distance slab' broken in three places was found in April 1868 in front of the rocky promontory on which Bridgeness Tower stands. Mr Cadell, who was present when the find was made, records that it was discovered lying face down, under a few inches of soil, at a point 19ft above the level of the ordinary spring tides. It had evidently been carefully laid there, over a hollow in the soil, and covered over. He donated the slab to the National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (NMAS Accession no: FV 27) on condition that a plaque recording the discovery by erected near the find-spot.
The slab is 9ft 2ins long by 2ft 11ins high and commemorates the completion of some four miles of the Antonine Wall by the 2nd Legion. Close to the find-spot, an old dry-stone dyke of squared freestone such as the Romans used in constructing their permanent camps was found, extending for a few feet like a rough retaining wall round the face of the promontory, about 5 or 6ft below the flat ground under the table (H M Cadwell 1913).
16th April 1868 (NAT)
H M Cadwell 1871; 1913; G Macdonald 1925; RCAHMS 1929; R W Feachem 1967.
Field Visit (25 January 1957)
A commemorative plaque at NT 0137 8151 in the roadside wall states that the slab was discovered "near this spot on 29th April 1868" otherwise the precise site was not confirmed.
Visited by OS (D S) 25 January 1957.
