Channelkirk House

NT45SE 5 4807 5451.

(NT 4807 5451) Roman Camp (R) (Site of)

OS 6" map (1908)

The ONB, quoting Chalmers who refers to a Mr Kinghorn's MS survey of 1803, states: "The Roman camp at Channelkirk appears to have been of considerable extent, but its exact dimensions cannot now be ascertained. The W side, and a part of the E only remained in November 1803. The W side exhibits a gate, which is covered by a traverse; and at the SW corner, there is a prodigious redoubt. The area of this camp is now occupied by the church, the church-yard, and the minister's glebe of Channelkirk, and extends to almost five acres."

Name Book 1857; G Chalmers 1807

The description by ONB relates to the Roman camp described on NT45SE 2. (The 'redoubt' at the SW corner is the fort described on NT45SE 3).

In 1897, some authorities believed that the wall-mound on which the lower boundaries of the manse garden and glebe are set formed part of the S boundary of this camp, but this was disputed by others.

A Allan 1900

There is no trace of a Roman camp at this site. The hedge forming the field boundary to the SW and SE is situated on top of a short steep scarp which seems to be merely terracing of the slope down to the Mountmill Burn.

Visited by OS (JD) 16 February 1955

Dr St Joseph states that Chalmers' account should be accepted with caution in the absence of Mr Kinghorn's survey, and Dr Steer (RCAHMS) states that there is no evidence for there being a Roman camp at this site.

J K St Joseph 1958

See also NT45SE 2. Evidence of the camp in the area of the Church in the early 19th Century. This was originally dismissed but has now been proved by aerial photographs.

Information from C A Appleby March 1988.