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Paisley, Roman Fort

Fort (Period Unassigned)(Possible)

Site Name Paisley, Roman Fort

Classification Fort (Period Unassigned)(Possible)

Alternative Name(s) John Neilson Institution

Canmore ID 43165

Site Number NS46SE 4

NGR NS 4770 6402

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/43165

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Renfrewshire
  • Parish Paisley (Renfrew)
  • Former Region Strathclyde
  • Former District Renfrew
  • Former County Renfrewshire

Archaeology Notes

NS46SE 4.00 4770 6402

NS46SE 4.01 Neilson Institution

(NS 4770 6402) The John Neilston Institution (NAT)

on site of Fort (NR) (originally published as...on site of CAMP (R))

OS 25" map (1967)

In 1845, the New Statistical Account (NSA) claimed that "the general voice of antiquaries" considered Paisley to be the Vanduaria of Ptolemy, and quoted Principal Dunlop's account of the late 17th century: "At Paisley there is a large Roman Camp to be seen. The praetorium or innermost part of the camp is on the W end of a rising ground or little hill called Oakshawhead, on the SE descent of which standeth the town of Paisley. The praetorium is not very large, but hath been well fortified with three foussees and dykes of earth which must have been large, when to this day their vestiges are so great that men on horseback will not see over them. The camp itself hath been great and large, it comprehending the whole hill. There are vestiges on the N side of the foussees and dike, whereby it appears that the camp reached to the River Cart. On the N side, the dike goeth alongst the foot of the hill, and if we allow it to have gone so far on the other side, it hath enclosed all the space of ground on which the town on Paisley stands, and it may be guessed to be about a mile in compass." Dunlop mentions that when one treads upon the ground of the praetorium, "it gives a sound as if it were hollow below, where belike there are some of their vaults." He adds that near to this camp stand two other rises or little hills, one about 1/4 mile W, and the other a similar distance S, which have been "stations for the outer guard."

(For these see NS46SE 16 and NS46SE 3 respectively).

Sibbald's description in 1707 and Crawfurd's in 1710 both follow Dunlop's (R Sibbald 1707; G Crawfurd 1710).

Horsley in 1732 noted that 'Aire' had generally been taken for Vanduaria, but he preferred Paisley because of the visible Roman remains there (J Horsely 1732).

In 1890, Chalmers reiterated the claim of Paisley to be Vanduaria, "which no one has ever denied", and supported this reference to Sibbald and Horsley. He specified the bowling green as the traditional site of the praetorium (G Chalmers 1890).

The Ordnance Survey Name Book (ONB), using the NSA and local information, recorded that the John Neilston Institution was supposed to occupy the site of the praetorium, and that remains of this had existed up to 1711 when they were destroyed and the bowling green constructed. It adds that Mr David Semple of Paisley (who supplied much archaeological material to the Ordnance Survey) narrowly watched the excavations for the foundations of the Institution (see NS46SE 4.1) but that neither vaults nor antiquities of any kind were discovered to support the Roman claim (Name Book 1857; NSA 1845).

There appears to be no real evidence at all for a Roman site at Paisley, which evidently owes its origin to Principal Dunlop, and to Ptolemy's siting of Vanduaria in the region of Renfrewshire. The description of the "praetorium" suggests an Iron Age fort, but the other earthworks, which must have been fairly extensive, are harder to account for. No siting for Vanduaria has yet been established.

Information from OS Recorder (EJR) 23 November 1956.

Architecture Notes

The Institution is now a school but retains its name. It is situated on top of a very steep knoll, in a very strong defensive position. Thee area is now almost entirely built over.

Visited by OS (JHO) 29 March 1951

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