Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

• Type

  Legal Documents

  Title

  SM8453_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013345)

Summary

Description

This monument comprises a Roman fortlet attached to the Antonine Wall, which lies partly in the garden of the house known as Watling Lodge and partly in open ground in Tamfourhill, Falkirk.

This proposal forms part of a programme which is intended to update the scheduling of the Antonine Wall, and adjusts the scheduled area in this location.

The fortlet was first discovered in 1894 when the gardens of Watling Lodge were being laid out, and was subsequently re-examined by excavation in 1972-4. The fortlet lies between the major forts at Rough Castle and (presumably) Falkirk, and had a specific strategic function. It is sited at the point where the main north-south Roman road crossed the Wall on its way north to the fort at Camelon, and would have served to guard this crossing point. The fortlet itself measures approximately 20m by 23m, with the Antonine Wall forming one side. The ditch around the fortlet was found to be well-preserved in the 1972-4 excavation, and measured approximately 2.8m across by 1m deep. Fragments of Roman pottery were recovered during the excavation.

The area to be scheduled includes the fortlet, and parts of Antonine Wall rampart, berm, ditch and upcast mound, and an area around the fortlet and to the south of the Antonine Wall where traces of activities associated with the construction and use of the monument may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map extract. The scheduling incorporates part of a playground, and all above-ground play equipment and the top 50cm of the surfacing are excluded from the scheduling to allow maintenance of those parts to take place without the requirement for written consent.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an element of a major Roman frontier system which has the potential to increase considerably our understanding of Roman frontier policy and military organisation. The Antonine Wall is also the most substantial and important Roman monument in Scotland.

References

Bibliography

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.