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Notes on an Artificial Mound at Bonnybridge

1934; Society of Antiquaries of Scotland; Volume: 68; Linguagem: Inglês

10.9750/psas.068.59.68

2056-743X

Samuel Smith,

This mound is situated, within what used to be the Barony of Seabegs, on land that now belongs to Messrs Smith & Wellstood, Ltd., ironfounders, Bonnybridge.It stands on the north side of the Antonine Ditch, about 130 yards west of the road that leads to Bonnybridge High Station, and is one of several apparently similar structures which are, or were once, to be seen on or near the line of the Roman Wall.The two others which survive are the Peel of Kirkintilloch and a wellpreserved ' tumulus' near the Parish Church of Gadder. 1 A fourth was visible during the eighteenth century not far from Castlecary-'about a furlong east from the fort, near a house or two called Booneck"*while a fifth, known as the Maiden Castle, 3 was destroyed in 1894 during the building of Watling Lodge, a house a little to the west of 'Lock Sixteen' on the Forth and Clyde Canal.The earlier writers were agreed in believing the Peel of Kirkintilloch to have been one of the original 'stations' on the Wall, but there was some difference of opinion regarding the remainder.At Bonnybridge, and also at Gadder, Horsley and Roy regarded the structure as an ' exploratory mount,' an integral element of the Roman defence, whereas Maitland was convinced that it was ' either a Scotish or Pictish tornmoid, or court-hill.' 4 Before the end of the nineteenth century it had come to be generally recognised that the Peel of Kirkintilloch had been a medieval fortress of the motte-and-bailey type.But the age of the others and their purpose continued to be obscure until 1913, when Sir George Macdonald and Mr A. O. Curie dug a trench across the ditch of the Gadder tumulus, and obtained evidence which proved that, in that case at all events, Maitland had been right in holding that it was not the Romans who had been the builders. 8 An opportunity to learn something about the Bonnybridge mound occurred last summer.An extension of the foundry is in contemplation, and to make room for this it was necessary to divert the road which had hitherto served the block of houses called Singer's Place.