Antonine Wall, Military Way
Frontier Defence (Roman), Roman Road (Roman)
Site Name Antonine Wall, Military Way
Classification Frontier Defence (Roman), Roman Road (Roman)
Canmore ID 230499
Site Number NS57SW 65.13
NGR NS 5427 7206
NGR Description from NS c.5000 7213 to NS 5500 7192
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/230499
- Council East Dunbartonshire
- Parish New Kilpatrick (Bearsden And Milngavie)
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Bearsden And Milngavie
- Former County Dunbartonshire
NS57SW 65.13 from c.5000 7213 to 5500 7192
The remains of the Causeway are very distinct between Bemulie (sic) fort (Balmuildy fort NS57SE 12) and Cadder church (NS67SW 28) 27 paces from the Wall (Stuart 1852).
NS5014 7213 The line of the Military Way was marked by unusual quantities of stones in the fields on both sides of the road (ONB 1860).
Inspection of farm road and adjacent fields at Braidfield proved negative. This is doubtfully the line of the Military Way; further east Horsley (1732) states it was only 3 chains from the Ditch (see NS 5142 7228).
NS 5050 7228 to NS 5100 7228 No trace of the Military Way across arable fields.
NS 5100 7228 to NS 5125 7228 No trace of the Military Way was found.
NS 5142 7228 The Military Way lies 3 chains S of Ditch at Cleddans Burn (Horsley 1732)
NS 5150 7231 to NS 5175 7228 The Old Road between Cleddin (sic) Burn and N Hutcheson farmstead is on the line of the Military Way (ONB 1860).
It is feasible that the unmetalled track noted in ONB (1860) may be on the line of the Military Way in this area. Its continuation links with a path across Bearsden golf course, formerly published as the course if the Military Way and now thought to be a by-pass branch (see also NS 5300 7213 to NS 5350 7207).
NS 5175 7228 to NS 5174 7204 East of Cleddins Burn the Military Way turns S to avoid Hutcheson Hill. At a distance of 3 furlongs E of Cleddins it is 20 chains S of the Ditch (Horsley 1732).
NS 5260 7269 to NS 5400 7205 The Military Way is well preserved between Castle Hill and New Kilpatrick. It is generally 2-3 chains S of the Ditch (Horsley 1732).
NS 5200 7228 to NS 5250 7223 The easterly continuation of this now remarkable path and track was formerly published as the course of the Military Way and is now thought to be a by-pass branch (see also NS 5300 7213 to NS 5400 7205).
NS 5248 7257 The Military Way is very visible as is passes the S side of the Fort (NS57SW 1) (Horsley 1732).
NS 5300 7213 to NS 5400 7205 'The Causeway' - Site of the Military Way on 1st edition of the OS 6 inch map (1865, sheet).
The Military Way is clearly visible along the S side of the footpath. Agger 18ft wide and 1ft high (Margary 1967).
The Military Way seems to have sent off a by-pass whose line is now roughly continued by Thorn Rd and by a path across Bearsden golf course (Robertson 1979).
It would seem that the Thorn Rd line cannot be the main course of the Military Way in view of its distance from the Wall and Horsley's (1732) statement that it is typically parallel to the line in this sector.. The raised path across Bearsden golf course may be a by-pass line but this cannot be proved by ground observation.
NS5400 7210 to NS 5450 7207 Modern highway is on the line of the Military Way (Horsley 1732).
NS 5427 7206 to NS 5450 7207 'Roman Road' almost certainly runs on the Military Way for part of its length (Robertson 1979).
NS 5479 7207 The Military Way is well preserved (Horsley 1732).
It may be significant that at this point the course of Roman Road, almost certainly overlying the Military Way between the fort (NS57SW 3) and the Wall, coverges to meet the re-positioned Wall line. Elsewhere, for some distance W and E of Bearsden the courses of Thorn Road, Roman Road and Boclair Road are parallel to, but always at a regular distance from, the Wall line.
NS 5487 7201 to NS 5500 7192 From Bearsden to the cemetery (see NS57SE 42.05 at NS 5562 7220), the modern road almost certainly overlies the Military Way (Macdonald 1934).
Information from OS 1980
J Horsley 1732; G Macdonald 1934; I D Margary 1967; ONB 1860; A S Robertson 1979
NS 505 723 Excavation in advance of proposed cable-laying revealed, S of Cleddans Road, the disturbed remains of the Military Way and the stone foundation cobbling of the Wall, and, N of Cleddans Road, the N edge of the ditch and the Outer Mound (NS57SW 65.00). The Military Way lay c.18m S of the Wall.
L J F Keppie 2001.
Antiquarian Observation (1732)
NS 5142 7228 The Military Way lies 3 chains S of Ditch at Cleddans Burn (Horsley 1732)
Antiquarian Observation (1732)
NS 5479 7207 The Military Way is well preserved (Horsley 1732).
Antiquarian Observation (1732)
NS 5248 7257 The Military Way is very visible as is passes the S side of the Fort (NS57SW 1) (Horsley 1732).
Antiquarian Observation (1732)
NS 5260 7269 to NS 5400 7205 The Military Way is well preserved between Castle Hill and New Kilpatrick. It is generally 2-3 chains S of the Ditch (Horsley 1732).
Antiquarian Observation (1732)
NS 5175 7228 to NS 5174 7204 East of Cleddins Burn the Military Way turns S to avoid Hutcheson Hill. At a distance of 3 furlongs E of Cleddins it is 20 chains S of the Ditch (Horsley 1732).
Antiquarian Observation (1852)
The remains of the Causeway are very distinct between Bemulie (sic) fort (Balmuildy fort NS57SE 12) and Cadder church (NS67SW 28) 27 paces from the Wall (Stuart 1852).
Antiquarian Observation (1860)
NS5014 7213 The line of the Military Way was marked by unusual quantities of stones in the fields on both sides of the road (ONB 1860).
Antiquarian Observation (1860)
NS 5150 7231 to NS 5175 7228 The Old Road between Cleddin (sic) Burn and N Hutcheson farmstead is on the line of the Military Way (ONB 1860).
Antiquarian Mapping (1865)
NS 5300 7213 to NS 5400 7205 'The Causeway' - Site of the Military Way on 1st edition of the OS 6 inch map (1865, sheet).
Field Visit (1934)
NS 5487 7201 to NS 5500 7192 From Bearsden to the cemetery (see NS57SE 42.05 at NS 5562 7220), the modern road almost certainly overlies the Military Way (Macdonald 1934).
Field Visit (1967)
NS 5300 7213 to NS 5400 7205 The Military Way is clearly visible along the S side of the footpath. Agger 18ft wide and 1ft high (Margary 1967).
Field Visit (1979)
NS 5300 7213 to NS 5400 7205 The Military Way seems to have sent off a by-pass whose line is now roughly continued by Thorn Rd and by a path across Bearsden golf course (Robertson 1979).
Field Visit (1979)
NS 5427 7206 to NS 5450 7207 'Roman Road' almost certainly runs on the Military Way for part of its length (Robertson 1979).
Field Visit (1980)
NS5014 7213 Inspection of farm road and adjacent fields at Braidfield proved negative. This is doubtfully the line of the Military Way; further east Horsley (1732) states it was only 3 chains from the Ditch (see NS 5142 7228).
Field Visit (1980)
NS 5479 7207 It may be significant that at this point the course of Roman Road, almost certainly overlying the Military Way between the fort (NS57SW 3) and the Wall, converges to meet the re-positioned Wall line. Elsewhere, for some distance W and E of Bearsden the courses of Thorn Road, Roman Road and Boclair Road are parallel to, but always at a regular distance from, the Wall line.
Field Visit (1980)
NS5400 7210 to NS 5450 7207 Modern highway is on the line of the Military Way (Horsley 1732).
Field Visit (1980)
NS 5300 7213 to NS 5400 7205 It would seem that the Thorn Rd line cannot be the main course of the Military Way in view of its distance from the Wall and Horsley's (1732) statement that it is typically parallel to the line in this sector.. The raised path across Bearsden golf course may be a by-pass line but this cannot be proved by ground observation.
Field Visit (1980)
NS 5200 7228 to NS 5250 7223 The easterly continuation of this now remarkable path and track was formerly published as the course of the Military Way and is now thought to be a by-pass branch (see also NS 5300 7213 to NS 5400 7205).
Field Visit (1980)
NS 5150 7231 to NS 5175 7228 It is feasible that the unmetalled track noted in ONB (1860) may be on the line of the Military Way in this area. Its continuation links with a path across Bearsden golf course, formerly published as the course if the Military Way and now thought to be a by-pass branch (see also NS 5300 7213 to NS 5350 7207).
Field Visit (1980)
NS 5100 7228 to NS 5125 7228 No trace of the Military Way was found.
Field Visit (1980)
NS 5050 7228 to NS 5100 7228 No trace of the Military Way across arable fields.
Excavation (30 March 2000 - 4 April 2000)
(Formerly described under NS57SW 65.12)
Centred NS 5046 7225
NS 5047 7229 (centre) an archaeological evaluation was conducted on the line of the Antonine Wall at Cleddans Road, in advance of the laying of an underground electricity cable. Two trenches were excavated on either side of Cleddans Road running from the S limit to the N limit of the Scheduled area, although Cleddans Road itself was not excavated.
The presence of the rampart and military way was confirmed to the S of the road and the excavations confirmed the presence of the N edge of the ditch and the outer mound N of the road (within the Clydebank and District Golf Course).
The rampart was located 1.9m to the S of the field boundary, with the military way located c 18m to the S of it. The base of the rampart measured 5m wide and was formed of two parallel kerbs of single-coursed, large angular blocks of yellow sandstone, between which was contained a foundation deposit of medium to small-sized angular sandstone cobbles. The turf component of the rampart was located immediately above the cobble foundation base and kerbstones and was 0.28m deep. Deposits of collapsed turf were identified immediately N and S of the rampart, in the latter area also sealing an old ground surface.
The military way comprised a slightly concave depression, c 4m wide by 0.1m deep, which contained a spread of small to medium-sized pebbles. A narrow ditch measuring c 0.35m wide by 0.29m deep was present immediately to the S of, and running parallel to, the stone surface.
The N cut of the ditch was present c 1.8m N of the fence on the N side of Cleddans Road, with the outer mound located c 2m N of the ditch. The ditch was excavated to a depth of c 0.75m below subsoil level. The rest of the ditch appears to lie beneath Cleddans Road. The outer mound measured 11m wide and survived to c 0.24m high, sealing beneath it an old ground surface. Two slots were located cut into the summit of the outer mound, c 0.9m apart, but are likely to be of relatively modern date.
A report has been lodged with the NMRS (MS/726/194)
Sponsor: Scottish Power plc.
R Strachan 2000.
Publication Account (2001)
NS 505 723 Excavation in advance of proposed cable-laying revealed, S of Cleddans Road, the disturbed remains of the Military Way (NS57SW 65.13) and the stone foundation cobbling of the Wall, and, N of Cleddans Road, the N edge of the ditch and the Outer Mound. The stone base was 5m wide, with the turf superstructure surviving up to 0.28m high with some indication of the dimensions of individual turf blocks. The Outer Mound had a width of c.11m, and survived to a height of c.0.24m.
L J F Keppie 2001.
