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Gallow Hill, Bridge Of Allan

Fort (Prehistoric)

Site Name Gallow Hill, Bridge Of Allan

Classification Fort (Prehistoric)

Alternative Name(s) Knock Hill

Canmore ID 45987

Site Number NS79NE 10

NGR NS 78243 98449

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/45987

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Copyright and database right 2024.

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Digital Images

Administrative Areas

  • Council Stirling
  • Parish Dunblane And Lecropt
  • Former Region Central
  • Former District Stirling
  • Former County Perthshire

Archaeology Notes

NS79NE 10 7825 9845.

(Centred NS 7825 9845) Camp (NR)

OS 6" map (1948)

A native fort. Ring of stones represents rampart round edge of knoll. Entrance on south is well-preserved. Many loose stones, debris of huts, inside. Hill precipitous on NE.

OS 6" map annotated by O G S Crawford, 5 June 1937.

An isolated rocky hill with the remains of a strong wall, mainly turf-covered, round its upper edge. There is an irregular mound in the centre, broken on the east, and which is separated from the rampart by a broad ditch, possibly the result of quarrying. The interior is uneven, and so much covered with the undergrowth, that no definite trace of hut circles could be found, although many small stones lie scattered on the surface.

Visited by OS (JLD) 27 May 1953

Generally as described above. The fort measures about 60.0 x 40.0m. It consists of a single stony rampart about 3.5m wide, and about 1.0m high internally. The rampart is best preserved on the south half of the fort. On the north it is indefinite and obscured. The entrance is in the SE segment where a definite hollow-way leads up the slopes of the knoll.

Revised at 25".

Visited by OS (WDJ) 8 January 1964

Activities

Field Visit (14 June 1957)

This site was included within the RCAHMS Marginal Land Survey (1950-1962), an unpublished rescue project. Site descriptions, organised by county, are available to view online - see the searchable PDF in 'Digital Items'. These vary from short notes, to lengthy and full descriptions. Contemporary plane-table surveys and inked drawings, where available, can be viewed online in most cases - see 'Digital Images'. The original typecripts, notebooks and drawings can also be viewed in the RCAHMS search room.

Information from RCAHMS (GFG) 19 July 2013.

Artefact Recovery (1958)

An upper quernstone of Roman type, dated to 1st century AD, was found recently on the top course of the wall (of the fort). The nearest known Roman site is Hillside Camp (Perth 132 NE 1) 1 1/2 miles to the NW. The quernstone is now in the NMAS (Acc. No. BB. 127) donated by Miss Stirling.

M Stirling 1960; Proc Soc Antiq Scot 1961

Field Visit (October 1978)

Gallow Hill NS 782 984 NS79NE 10

This fort measures 48m by 32m within the remains of a single rampart 4.5m thick and 1 m high.

RCAHMS 1979, visited October 1978

Note (14 August 2014 - 23 May 2016)

This small fortification is situated on a rocky hillock that rises out of the saddle between Knock Hill on the SW and Gallow Hill on the N. Oval on plan, it measures 48m from N to S by 40m transversely (0.15ha) within a single rampart 4.5m in thickness by 1m in height. The entrance is on the SE, where the OS noted a hollowed track dropping down the slope. The interior is featureless. An imported Roman rotary qeurnstone was found in the enclosing plantation wall about 1958 (Stirling 1958).

Information from An Atlas of Hillforts of Great Britain and Ireland – 23 May 2016. Atlas of Hillforts SC1496

Desk Based Assessment (March 2014 - May 2015)

CFA Archaeology Ltd undertook an assessment of the likely impacts on archaeology and built heritage (cultural heritage assets) of the construction and occupation of the proposed development.

Twenty-three cultural heritage assets have been identified within the proposed development site. The cultural heritage assets range in date from the prehistoric period to the post-medieval period and indicate that there has been activity and settlement within the area since at least the later prehistoric (Bronze Age/Iron Age) period. One site, Knock Hill fort, is a Scheduled Monument and is of national importance. The route of an 18th century military road, which crosses the proposed development site, is considered to be of unknown, but potentially of regional importance if buried remains survive. The other assets are assessed to be no greater than of local heritage importance.

Funder: AWM Environment

Field Visit (1 March 2014 - 1 May 2014)

The earthwork remains of this prehistoric fort occupy a rocky knoll

between Knock Hill and Gallow Hill. The fort remains are roughly oval in plan, measuring c.60m northwest to southeast by c.40m, and bounded by a single stony rampart c.3.5m wide and up to 1.5m high internally. The rampart is best preserved on the south half of the fort, particularly in the vicinity of the well-defined southeast entrance which is, approached by a well-worn path up the slope of the knoll. The interior contains the remains of numerous ill-defined buildings. The Ordnance Survey 1st Edition map (Perthshire, 1866, Sheet CXXXII, 6 inch to 1 mile) and 2nd Edition map (Perth and Clackmannan, 1901, Sheet CXXXII.NE, 6 inch to 1 mile) depicts the location of the fort, annotated as ‘Supposed site of a Roman Camp’. The fort survives in relatively good condition within an improved pasture field and is today covered in trees. The ramparts and southeast entrance are visible as described by the SMR and RCAHMS database (above). Trees and other vegetation within the interior of the fort restricts visibility in this area, however, at least two possible circular structures were visible

Information from Mhairi Hastie (CFA Archaeology Ltd) July 2014. OASIS ID: cfaarcha1-260332, no.17

References

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