ARDOCH and Romans in Scotland
At Ardoch, just north of the village of Braco in Perthshire, lie the remarkably well-preserved earthworks of a fort and of camps erected by the Roman army over 1,700 years ago. The focus of the site is the fort; one of the best preserved military earthworks to be found anywhere in the Roman Empire. This is accessible from the entry point on the A 822 immediately to the north of the bridge over the River Knaik, on the north side of Braco. Beyond the fort and attached to it, is an annexe, crossed by a Roman road. Within the annexe the corner of one camp is visible, while another camp overlaps its north rampart. This camp can also be seen in ground owned by Historic Scotland north of the junction between A 822 and theB827.
The Romans in Scotland
In the year 77 Julius Agricola was sent to govern the Roman province of Britain. His biography, written by his son-in-law Cornelius Tacitus survives, and is a major source of information for the period. The book describes Agricola's seven campaigns in Britain, including two against the Caledonians, which culminated in his victory at the Battle of Mons Graupius in 83. During its march north the army protected itself by constructing a temporary camp each night; some of the camps at Ardoch may date to these campaigns. The first fort at Ardoch may also date to Agricola's governorship.
In about 87 the Roman army withdrew from central Scotland and for the next 50 years the north-west frontier of the Roman empire lay on or a little to the north of the Tyne-Solway isthmus, where Hadrian's Wall was built in the 120s. In 138 Hadrian died and his successor, Antoninus Pius, ordered a new forward policy in Britain, abandoning Hadrian's Wall and building a new Wall, this time of turf, across the Forth-Clyde isthmus, the Antonine Wall. A new fort was constructed at Ardoch as part of the new frontier arrangements. This fort was abandoned after only about 20 years, apparently after one major modification.
In 208, the Roman army was back, for the Emperor Septimius Severus decided to solve the problem of the northern frontier by coming to Britain and completing the conquest of the island. He died in 211 before his objective could be achieved, but during the course of his campaigns his army probably camped twice at Ardoch.
The Romans, so far as we know, were not to return to Ardoch. Much later, in the Middle Ages, a small hospice for travellers was built in the centre of the fort and a farm grew up in the annexe. In 1842 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited Ardoch and this is com-memorated by their initials and the date carved on a stone beside the A 822.
The Roman Fort
The earthworks of the Roman fort are very well preserved. The rampart still stands to a height of 6 feet and beyond it on the north and east sides are 5 ditches all close to their original profiles. The sites of all 4 gates are visible, while at the north and east gates cause-ways stride impressively across the ditches: the east causeway is especially interesting as the outer ditch has an unexpected twist to provide extra protection.
Three phases of occupation are reflected in the earthworks. The visible rampart belongs to the latest period of occupation (about 158-163). It consisted of a turf rampart with a stone keth (no longer to be seen) at the front. This fort covered 5.7 acres. Its predecessor (7.2 acres) was rather longer, its north rampart being cut off from the rest of the fort by a pair of ditches in the last period of occupation when a new north rampart was constructed. This fort was probably occupied from about 142 to 158. A stone barrack-block excavated in 1897-8 may date to either of these forts. The first century fort, which contained timber building, seems to have been larger than either of its second century predecessors. Its garrison included cohors I Hispanorum, a mixed infantry and cavalry regiment originally raised in Spain. Later garrisons are not known.
Credit; This information sourced from; Ardoch, The Roman Fort- a guide by David J Breeze.
This excellent booklet, which includes maps and access details, can be obtained from Browsers Bookshop, High Street, Dunblane.Cost 99p
Proceeds from the sale go to charities; organised by Bridge of Allan and Dunblane Rotory Club.
BACK TO TEXT