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Bridgeness
Roman Fort (Roman)(Possible)
Site Name Bridgeness
Classification Roman Fort (Roman)(Possible)
Alternative Name(s) Roman Fortlet (Possible)
Canmore ID 49567
Site Number NT08SW 5
NGR NT 013 815
NGR Description NT c. 013 815
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/49567
- Council Falkirk
- Parish Bo'ness And Carriden
- Former Region Central
- Former District Falkirk
- Former County West Lothian
NT08SW 5 c. 013 815
There are vestiges of a Roman fort at Bridgeness.
R Sibbald 1707.
The discovery at Bridgeness of a Roman distance slab (NT08SW 4) makes it certain that thereabouts must have been a Roman fort. The exact site is doubtful, and it may have been at Carriden (NT08SW 7)
RCAHMS 1929.
A sandstone block, identified as an arch voussoir of the type used in Roman baths was found in 1937 at a depth of about 8' below the surface in the middle of Harbour Road, Bridgeness, and about 81' N of the tablet commemorating the finding of the distance slab.
The voussoir was lying among sand on the top of two flat, unworked boulders, among which were two ox vertebrae.
The field which is the only likely site for a fort has been broken up for building, but in none of the cuts was there any sign of filled-up ditches, while no Roman pottery has been found.
The find spot of the stones, may, in Roman times, have been beyond the coastline, and the stones are possibly spoil from Carriden, slipped or dropped from aboard ship when being taken away for use elsewhere.
G Macdonald 1937.
NT 0139 8152. The find spot of the arch voussoir was located during field investigation from information given by MacDonald. The surrounding area has been almost completely built over and there are no surface traces of a fort.
Visited by OS (D S) 25 January 1957.
Previous field surveyor confirmed.
Visited by OS (B S) 12 March 1974.
Note (1978)
Bridgeness, Fort NT 01 81 NT08SW 5
The possible position of the fort at the E end of the Antonine Wall. A distance slab found in 1868 at NT 013 815 is now in NMAS; a copy of the inscription is mounted on a wall on the W side of Harbour Road.
RCAHMS 1978
(MacDonald 1925, 281; RCAHMS 1929, pp. 197-8, Nos. 308-9, MacDonald 1934, 190, 304-6; 1937, 383-6; Robertson 1973, 42-5; Keppie 1974; 1975; Phillips 1974)
