Falkirk
Roman Fort (Roman)(Possible)
Site Name Falkirk
Classification Roman Fort (Roman)(Possible)
Canmore ID 46784
Site Number NS87NE 8
NGR NS 8862 7981
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/46784
- Council Falkirk
- Parish Falkirk
- Former Region Central
- Former District Falkirk
- Former County Stirlingshire
NS87NE 8 8862 7981.
See NS87NE 42
(NS 8862 7981) Probable Site of FORT (R)
OS 25" map (1944)
The growth of the modern town has destroyed all traces of the Antonine Wall fort which should be expected at Falkirk. Chance finds of pottery, worked stones, hearths, and at least one coin (of Antoninus) suggest that it was situated on high ground in the district known as the Pleasance, overlooking the hollow through which the now concealed West Burn once ran.
RCAHMS 1967, visited 1957; G Macdonald 1934; A S Robertson 1973
NS 891 795. Excavations in 1971 revealed a butt-ended causeway of what is probably the Antonine ditch. This may reflect the position of the fort at Falkirk or, more likely, indicate a staged watch-tower E of that fort.
D J Breeze 1977
Although the missing Falkirk fort was located by evidence of finds to the Pleasance area, the discovery of a Roman building at the East Burn in 1980 (see NS87NE 15, see also NS87NE 42) now suggests its placing could be much further E, either on the W flank of the East Burn, near Woodside (NS 890 796), or in Callendar Park. Given that the newly found building lies E of the burn, the latter alternative may be more plausible.
L J F Keppie and F Murray 1980
Discussion of possible sites.
L J F Keppie and J F Murray 1981
Field Visit (20 March 1957)
NS87SE c. 886 798 (unnoted)
Roman Fort, Falkirk (Site).
The distance between the forts of Mumrills and Rough Castle, nearly 5 miles, is twice the normal distance between the forts on the Antonine Wall, so that the existence of an intermediate station in the neighbourhood of Falkirk can be safely assumed. No remains of such a fort have survived, but chance finds of pottery, worked stones and hearths suggest that it was situated on high ground in the district known as the Pleasance, overlooking the hollow through which the now concealed West Burn once ran (1).
The hoard of nearly 2000 Roman coins which was discovered in Falkirk in 1933 (2) has no bearing on the site of the fort in question, since the find was made a quarter of a mile N. of the Antonine Wall.
RCAHMS 1963, visited 20 March 1957.
(1) The evidence is conveniently summarised in RWS, 215-6.
(2) PSAS, lxviii (1933-4), 32-40; lxxiii (1938-9), 244-5. For the piece of tartan cloth found with the hoard, see PSAS, lxxxii (1947-8), 227-30.
Field Visit (July 1977)
Pleasance, Falkirk, Fort NS 886 798 NS87NE 8
Site of a Roman fort suggested by the spacing of forts on the Antonine Wall and discovery of Roman pottery.
RCAHM 1978, visited July 1977
(Macdonald 1934, 214-16; RCAHMS 1963, p.99, No.113; Robertson, 1973, 52)
