Skip to main content

Ordnance Survey - Stirling county, OS Name Books - Stirling county - Volume 11 - Parish of Falkirk, OS1/32/11

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 58

Falkirk Ph. [Parish]

* "The first wall was raised by the emperor Hadrian along the line of the nearest chain of forts in the
year 120. The second was executed by Lollius Urbicus, in the reign of Antoninus , along the farthest chain
of forts, in the year 140. From Castle Cary the wall keeps on its usual course, along the slope of the commanding
ground, having the Bonny in front. Near a place called the Dyke something like a small tumulus exists in the ditch; and
farther on faint vestiges on the rampart may be perceived. Having passed through Sebeg Wood, it comes to the house
of that name, situated on the south brink of the ditch; and either here, or at Dick's-house, a little more to the eastward
(which is likewise called Mill-quarter), there hath been a station. From Castle Cary to Sebeg-house is 3300 yards.
The wall having passed Dick's-house, comes to the Chapel-hill, which is a small Castellum, situated on the north
side of the ditch, and surrounded with one of its own. Between this place, and the traces of an old watch tower, near
Elf-hill, according to tradition, Grime, with his Britons, broke through the wall; from which circumstance it might probably
have the name Grime's Dyke. Hence continuing eastward, and crossing Roundtree-burn we come to the station called
Rough castle, which is the last, that is the easternmost now existing on the wall, and distant from Sebeg-house 2860 yards
This station consists of two divisions, whereof the principal one seems to have been that towards the west, as it is surrounded
with triple envelope. The eastern part was probably an addition for lodging a greater body of troops, when, on some
particular emergency, the wall was repaired; and within it some foundations may be seen.
From Rough castle, eastward to Gilmor-seat, and some little way beyond it, is now the most entire part of the
whole wall. Beyond this, opposite to Tamfour-hill, the Roman way leading to Camelon, hath issued from the wall.
The author of the Britannia Romana places this ancient Roman city, on the tract of the wall itself, where there is not
a single vestige to be seen, whereas those of Camelon are very conspicuous three quarters of a mile in front it; which shews
that he could not have examined scrupulously every point himself, but had in some cases trusted to the slight and inaccurate
information of others. From the sortie of the Roman way, the wall continues its direction, and having crossed Tamfour-burn,
ascends the ridge whereon the house of Bantaskin is situated 3430 yards from Rough castle.
From Bantaskin, continuing along the ridge, the wall appears to have passed through the grounds now occupied by the * see page 59
[continued on page 59]

Ordnance Survey - Stirling county, OS Name Books - Stirling county - Volume 11 - Parish of Falkirk, OS1/32/11

This volume contains information on place names found in the parish of Falkirk.

Ordnance Survey - Stirling county

Ordnance Survey was established in the 18th century to create maps, surveys and associated records for the entirety of Great Britain. These records are arranged by county. This entry has been created to enable searching for Ordnance Survey records for the county of Stirling, which is in central Scotland. The boundaries of the county were altered by the Boundary Commissioners in 1891.

View more volumes for Ordnance Survey - Stirling county