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 228343
Site Number NS97NW 46.10
NGR NS 9045 7951
NGR Description From NS 9045 7951 to NS 9367 7923
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/228343
- Council Falkirk
- Parish Falkirk
- Former Region Central
- Former District Falkirk
- Former County Stirlingshire
NS97NW 46.10 from 9045 7951 to 9367 7923
NS c.9045 7950 to NS c.9064 7950 No surface trace of Military Way. The published course has been deleted as it cannot be substantiated on the available evidence. Macdonald gives no location measurements.
Apparent vestiges of Military Way by trenching (Macdonald 1915).
NS 9141 7948 to NS 9146 7948 Cobbling of what is almost certainly the Military Way discovered in 1967 in back garden. The alignment is probably on the west gate of Mumrills fort annexe (NS97NW 10) (Letter: D Breeze (Inspector of Archaeological Monuments) 1973) (Hunter 1967).
There is no surface trace of the Military Way across the landscaped gardens of Dundas Crescent, although Mrs. M. Smart (no. 9) confirms the extent and orientation of the cobbling found.
RAF vertical aerial photographs (106G/ SCOT/ UK10 frame no 5052-3, 1946) show distinct whitish soil marks on this course, and a possible linear parch mark across a bowling green further east at NS 9155 7945.
Course surveyed at 1:1250 as far as can be substantiated.
NS 9154 7946 to NS 9157 7945 Possible line of Military Way from fort annexe (see NS79SW 10). Parch mark on RAF vertical aerial photographs (106G/ SCOT/ UK10, frame no 5052-3, 1946).
NS 9196 7942 to NS 9200 7942 The Military Way should run parallel with the S side of Annexe and directly approach the Entrance of fort, however, available aerial photographic evidence (see NS97NW 10) is inconclusive. No surface trace.
NS 9212 7953 to NS 9225 7950 Revised course of Military Way based on only viable approach to Mumrills fort, and possible linear parch-marks on RAF vertical aerial photographs (106G/ SCOT/ UK10, frame nos. 5052-3, 1946). Ascending a narrow valley from E to W, level ground in gained at NS 9255 7950 but any continuation from here to the fort is conjectural.
NS 9252 7950 Probable line of Military Way now re-assessed from Macdonald's location measurements (see new course at NS 9225 7950 to NS 9255 7950).
NS 9225 7950 to NS 9255 7950 Modified published course (OS 50 inch 1972) of Military Way based on Macdonald's location measurements at NS 9255 7950 and possible parch marks of course on RAF vertical aerial photographs (106G/ SCOT/ UK10, frame nos. 5052-3, 1946).
NS 9255 7950 Probable remains of Military Way exposed by drain in 1913 (Macdonald 1915).
The resurveyed course of the Military Way at NS 9255 7950 is based on location measurements given by Macdonald. These re-align the published course which was slightly to the N (NS 9252 7950). No surface traces were found across a field of level pasture.
NS 9305 7945 Wall-base well preserved. The hollow to the S may indicate the Military Way (Macdonald 1915).
NS 9367 7923 Military Way exposed in a pipe trench (Macdonald 1915).
No surface indications of Military Way.
Information from OS 1980
D M Hunter 1967; G Macdonald 1915
NS 9259 7955 The points where the Rampart of the Antonine Wall crosses the West Burn of Falkirk (NS87NE 57.00) and the Polmont Burn (NS97NW 46.04) were uncovered as a consequence of development threats. The two streams differ greatly in size, the West Burn of Falkirk being much smaller. This has led to different solutions being applied by the Roman engineers in designing the two crossings. The excavation at Beancross in 1986 for Falkirk Museum had indicated that the Roman frontier at Dollhouse lay further S than had been indicated on OS maps (Keppie et al. 1995). It was also known that the Military Way crossed the low-lying ground to the rear of the Wall (Macdonald 1934).
The most southern group of stonework lay 6.2m south from the most N group and had a channel cut through it similar to the channel observed in the Wall base (see NS97NW 46.04). It lies close to the line of the Military Way as noted by Macdonald (1934). Proximity to the Rampart and a similar alignment suggest that these stones may have formed part of the road's abutment at the stream crossing. The N/S channel has similar characteristics to the corresponding feature cut through the foundation of the Wall and can tentatively be identified as a slot for a structural beam taking the lateral and downward thrust of an arched timber bridge. The E side of the channel was lined with large stones backed with compacted clay and gravel layer which still displayed a distinct slope away form the central E/W axis. This material may be seen as the foundation for an agger or ramp leading the road onto the bridge abutment.
The road only measured 2.6m N-S, whereas a width of c.5m might have been expected for the Military Way. However, a late Claudian timber bridge excavated at Fishbourne caused the road of 5m wide to contract to only 3m at foundation level (Cunliffe 1971).
G B Bailey 1996
B Cunliffe 1971; L J G Keppie, G B Bailey, A J Dunwell, J H McBrien, K Speller 1995; G Macdonald 1934.
NS 949 795 At Polmonthill, Grangemounth pipelaying across the suspected alignment of the Military Way yielded no evidence of its cobbling.
L J F Keppie 1996.
Scheduled with NS97NW 10, NS97NW 29, NS97NW 45, NS97NW 46.00 as 'Antonine Wall, Mumrills fort, Sandy Loan to A905, Falkirk' [includes Military Way from NS 9212 7952 to NS 9245 7949).
Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 13 June 2001.
NS 9099 7949 At a distance of 19m south of the Ditch, the northern edge of a gravel road was found almost on the same alignment. It had been laid directly upon the natural gravel. The southern edge did not lie within the excavation trench. The location suggested this to have been the Military Way, only 6m south of the rear of the presumed Rampart.
G B Bailey 2002
A Dunwell, G Bailey, A Leslie, A Smith 2002.
Trial Trench (1913)
NS c.9046 7951 to NS c.9056 7951
Apparent vestiges of Military Way by trenching (Macdonald 1915).
Observation (1913)
NS 9367 7923 Military Way exposed in a pipe trench (Macdonald 1915).
Observation (1913)
NS 9255 7950 Probable remains of Military Way exposed by drain in 1913 (Macdonald 1915).
Observation (1967)
NS 9141 7948 to NS 9146 7948 Cobbling of what is almost certainly the Military Way discovered in 1967 in back garden. The alignment is probably on the west gate of Mumrills fort annexe (NS97NW 10) (Letter: D Breeze (Inspector of Archaeological Monuments) 1973).
There is no surface trace of the Military Way across the landscaped gardens of Dundas Crescent, although Mrs. M. Smart (no. 9) confirms the extent and orientation of the cobbling found (Hunter 1967).
Trial Trench (June 1981 - November 1981)
NS 904 795 to NS 906 795 In June and November 1981, the Wall and Military Way were traced by probing and supplimented by trenching from the embankment of the Edinburgh-Falkirk (Grahamstown) railway to the Callendar Park College lodge and were shown to follow a line different to that on current OS maps. The Wall was 4.5m wide and constructed of sandstone kerbs with a core of cut sandstone and natural cobbles and a superstructure of earth revetted by narrow turf cheeks 0.3m wide or slightly more.
L J F Keppie and J J Walker 1990; N B Rankov 1982.
NS 904 795 to NS 906 795 The Wall and Military Way were traced by probing from the embankment of the Edinburgh-Falkirk (Grahamstown) railway to the Callendar Park College lodge and were shown to follow a line different to that on current OS maps. The Military Way was excavated at two points. At the first it consisted of medium-sized cobbles bordered on the N by a carefully laid line if similar cobbles. A ridge of larger cobbles may mark its central line and suggests a width of c.6m, although it had been robbed away on the S. There was no flanking drainage channel. At the second point construction was similar, but there was no obvious or certain spine. Up to six post-settings 0.15m-0.25m wide and cut up to 0.1m into natural were found and appeared integral to the roadway. Their purpose is obscure. The road was about 15m from the Wall, though the former 'cut' the corner at the turn.
N B Rankov 1982.
Trial Trench (December 1989)
NS97NW 46.01 9053 7950
A 1.4m wide section was dug across the Antonine frontier at right angles to the features. The rampart base survived well. The stone foundation was 4.3m wide with dressed kerbs. Clay cheeks were observed in the superstructure, with an earthen core. These cheeks were only 36cm wide, and the south cheek was interrupted by a squared timber which rested on the kerbstones. To the north the land sloped down into a 7m wide V-shaped ditch with sides at 33 to 40 degrees. Between the rampart and the slope was a level area of only 3.8m and here four elongated defensive pits were discovered in the characteristic quincunx pattern. The pits averaged 40cm wide by 35cm deep, with length in excess of 70cm. To the N of the ditch an earlier gravel pit was excavated, its fill formed from the upcast mound.
No trace was found of the Military Way, but 7m S of the rampart a two phase hearth was encountered. This was associated with imitation black-burnished ware and a lens of clay suggesting a timber building.
Sponsors: Falkirk Museum, Central Regional Council, Historic Scotland
G Bailey 1990
Excavations in 1989 discovered the presence of defensive pits, or lilia, on the berm of the Antonine Wall. Less tangible evidence was found for a timber building behind the rampart and a timber tower within the body of the rampart. The choice of constructional meterials suggests the possibility that the wall from Watling Lodge to Carriden was a late addition to the frontier. In 1990, further defensive pits were located 120m to the W and a complete section was excavated across the ditch.
G B Bailey 1995
Salvage Record (May 1990)
NS97NW 46.02 9043 7952
As a result of roadworks an 11m section of the Antonine Ditch was completely excavated. The V-shaped ditch had sides 43 degrees with a narrow slot in the base. It was 8.2m wide, V-shaped and attained a depth of 4.3m. Some 10.7m to the S lay the remanants of the stone base of the Wall. The berm contained two gullies of unknown date or function and four shallow pits which may have been truncated remains of defensive pits. To the S of the Wall base three further pits were irregularly dug.
The levelled remains of the upcast mound were also examined. It was c.11m wide and survived to a height of 0.7m. It seems probable that a gravel layer on top of the mound represented the medieval highway from Linlithgow to Falkirk. Below the mound was a pre-Roman cultivation soil.
Sponsors: Falkirk Museum, Central Regional Council, Historic Scotland
G Bailey 1990; S S Frere 1991
Excavation (February 1991)
NS97NW 46.04 9260 7951
NS 9259 7955 The points where the Rampart of the Antonine Wall crosses the West Burn of Falkirk (NS87NE 57.00) and the Polmont Burn were uncovered as a consequence of development threats. The two streams differ greatly in size, the West Burn of Falkirk being much smaller. This has led to different solutions being applied by the Roman engineers in designing the two crossings. The excavation at Beancross in 1986 for Falkirk Museum had indicated that the Roman frontier at Dollhouse lay further S than had been indicated on OS maps (Keppie et al. 1995). It was also known that the Military Way (NS97NW 46.10) crossed the low-lying ground to the rear of the Wall (Macdonald 1934).
Deposits on the west side of the trench were consistent with the slow silting and westward migration of a medium-sized watercourse. The natural slope down from east to west on the eastern half of the trench may be seen as one of this stream's banks. The close proximity of the Polmont Burn in its present canalised course leaves little reason to doubt this interpretation.
Three groups of stonework were also revealed (see NS97NW 46.10 for description of the third group). The most northern group was a large area of stonework and had a clear channel running through it. The character of this foundation, its width of 4.2m and its location all indicate that it formed part of the Antonine Wall. A second foundation comprised of large boulders around which smaller cobbles had been packed. A small cut divided this group from the northern one, however there was evidence of contemporaenity. These were both terraced carefully into the ground to provide level foundations. The stones in the N group can be seen as a single foundation running E-W, stepped into the E bank of the old stream. The W part of the foundation survived because of the natural dip in the ground, whereas eastward it had evidently been removed by later cultivation such as was noted by Gordon (1726). Unfortunately the very point at which it reached the burn had been removed by the cutting of the sewer pipe trench.
The channel through the Wall foundation were seen in a similar position at West Burn of Falkirk where their function has been interpreted as overflows redirecting water back into the burn. However, the channel here had the occurrence of small stone chippings at its S end, in which it would seem unlikely that it would also function as a conduit for water. Also the position of the stonework immediately to the S would render this task impossible, thus this channel can best be interpreted as a slot for a horizontal timber beam. Its location suggests that it would have been the sill beam of a wooden bridge over the Polmont Burn. Similar circumstances of lateral wooden sleepers are discussed by Ward (1903), Macdonald (1937) and Johnson (1983). This type of construction could be used for rivers up to 15m wide.
G B Bailey 1996
A Gordon 1726; L J G Keppie, G B Bailey, A J Dunwell, J H McBrien, K Speller 1995; G Macdonald 1934; J Ward 1903
Publication Account (1992)
NS97NW 46.04 9260 7951
Examination, by G B Bailey of Falkirk Museum, of stonework seen on the E edge of a pipeline trench revealed the damaged remains of two bridge abutments, 4.6m apart, respectively carrying the Wall and Military Way over the former course of the burn; each was traversed by a stone-lined channel taken to be the seating for the horizontal beams supporting the E side of a bridge.
S S Frere 1992.
A Gordon 1726; L J G Keppie, G B Bailey, A J Dunwell, J H McBrien, K Speller 1995; G Macdonald 1934; J Ward 1903
Watching Brief (June 1999)
NS97NW 46.08 9265 7950
NS 9265 7950 An archaeological watching brief was carried out at the site of a proposed Brewers Fayre and Travel Inn, near Falkirk. The development area lay on the route of the Antonine Wall, remnants of which were seen at the western edge during the excavation of a trench for a drain. No remains of the Antonine Wall were seen during the watching brief.
Sponsor: Ogilvie Construction.
A Duffy 1999
NS 9265 7950 In June 1999 an evaluation was undertaken on the site of a proposed Brewers Fayre and Travel Inn, near Falkirk. The proposed development lay on the route of the Antonine Wall, remnants of which were seen within the development area at its western edge during the excavation of a trench for a drain (see NS97NW 46.04). The three trenches, each 2m wide and totalling 76m in length, were oriented roughly N/S, at right angles to the adjacent A905 road. No physical evidence of the Rampart, Ditch or Military Way was noted during evaluation. The absence of the Ditch is of particular interest as, given the large size of this feature, it seems highly unlikely that its absence can be explained in terms of lack of preservation. The possibility that it was never present here can be countenanced.
A Duffy 2002
A Dunwell, G Bailey, A Leslie, A Smith 2002.
Archaeological Evaluation (June 1999)
NS97NW 46.08 9265 7950
NS 9265 7950 In June 1999 an evaluation was undertaken on the site of a proposed Brewers Fayre and Travel Inn, near Falkirk. The proposed development lay on the route of the Antonine Wall, remnants of which were seen within the development area at its western edge during the excavation of a trench for a drain (see NS97NW 46.04). The three trenches, each 2m wide and totalling 76m in length, were oriented roughly N/S, at right angles to the adjacent A905 road. No physical evidence of the Rampart, Ditch or Military Way was noted during evaluation. The absence of the Ditch is of particular interest as, given the large size of this feature, it seems highly unlikely that its absence can be explained in terms of lack of preservation. The possibility that it was never present here can be countenanced.
A Duffy 2002
A Dunwell, G Bailey, A Leslie, A Smith 2002.
