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'Dere Street': Border - Newstead - Elginhaugh

Roman Road (Roman)

Site Name 'Dere Street': Border - Newstead - Elginhaugh

Classification Roman Road (Roman)

Canmore ID 71764

Site Number NT45SE 52

NGR NT 4999 5255

NGR Description NT 4999 5255 to NT 4743 5499

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/71764

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

  • Council Scottish Borders, The
  • Parish Channelkirk
  • Former Region Borders
  • Former District Ettrick And Lauderdale
  • Former County Berwickshire

Archaeology Notes

NT45SE 52.00 from 4999 5255 to 4743 5499 RR 2.

Formerly RR8g.

Allan states that the stretch of road from Sheilfield, which was "straight as an arrow", coalesced with the modern road that leads S out of Oxton at a point about 300 yds from the village crossroads. From charter evidence Allan further inferred that it ran through the centre of the village and not, as Chalmers states, somewhere to the W of it; and both authorities agree that it was once clearly visible descending the steep slope to the right bank of the Mountmill Burn and mounting the left bank to Channelkirk Church (482545). Allan states, in fact, that it ran "uphill past the churchyard and...through the Manse dining-room". This course is probable enough, and may well be marked by a straight, grassy terrace, which makes an oblique descent of the almost precipitous S slope of the valley of the Mountmill Burn exactly on its line. The shelf is now only 7 ft in width and slopes sharply towards its outer edge; below it, however, a large mass of bank appears to have slipped or been eroded. Where the transverse gradient eases - at a vertical row of trees - and slipping and erosion have consequently become less likely, the breadth of the terrace increases to 12 ft. Throughout its length the terrace is accompanied by faint traces of another, parallel to it and some 30 ft down the slope. At its head this lower terrace increases in breadth and becomes a recognisable and relatively modern cart-track, passing between two ruined gate-pillars. This may well be the road leading to Channelkirk that is mentioned by Chalmers and Allan. Nothing is to be seen at the foot of the slope or in the haugh. The gradient of the left bank, on the ascent to the church, though somewhat eased by a convenient natural shelf, is still rather steeper that 1 in 6; if the Roman road actually followed the footpath, and did not, for example, zig-zag on a course now destroyed by cultivation, this would be the steepest gradient recorded in the course of this survey. Some positive remains of Roman work now come into view about 100 yds short of the top of the strip of plantation that runs NW from the church. It is reasonable to suppose that the original line of the road approximates to that of the lane as far as its corner, and that from there onwards it was alined along the outer side of the strip and gradually drew in towards its centre. Near the top (477548) the road-mound is clearly distinguishable, with a breadth of up to 27 ft, and it then passes out into cultivated land at a point where a gate has lately been broken through the boundary wall between wood and field. The field slopes from SW to NE, athwart the road, which continues as a very broad, flattened mound for the next 250 yds. It then curves slightly with the contours and is visible filling a shallow transverse slack above the modern quarry. Its general course for the ensuing third of a mile is not then in doubt, as it is dictated by the lie of the ground - a neck diving the valley of the Rauchy Burn from slopes draining gently eastwards to the Headshaw Burn - and in 1949 very faint traces of the mound could, in fact, be seen in the stubble, though these are unlikely to survive cultivation much longer. Again, it is further indicated, beyond the end of the cultivated ground, by a belt of later hollow tracks, though no remains of Roman work can be identified here with certainty until a point is reached just above the W corner of Glengelt Plantation (NT 472 553, now felled).

Visited by RCAHMS 1944-5, 1949.

G Chalmers 1887-1902; A Allan 1900; RCAHMS 1956.

Line of road suggested by Margary (see NT55SW 40 runs from sheet edge NT 4999 5255 and joins RCAHMS line at NT 4863 5408.

I D Margary 1957.

NT 4999 5255 - NT 4863 5408 (Line suggested by Margary). No trace (JD, EGC, JP)

NT 4999 5305 - NT 4884 5405 (RCAHMS line) No trace. (EGC)

NT 4884 5405 - NT 4855 5416 Slight terrace 1m to 3m wide but not conclusive enough proof of road for survey. (EGC)

NT 4855 5416 - NT 4839 5430 No trace. (EGC)

NT 4839 5430 - NT 4830 5438 Terrace, probably not of Roman road, runs parallel to, and 5m from, the NE side of wall. (EGC)

NT 4830 5438 - NT 4801 5456 No trace. (EGC)

NT 4801 5456 - NT 4787 5467 Modern road on probable course of Roman road (JTT)

NT 4787 5467 - NT 4775 5480 Extant. (JTT)

NT 4775 5480 - NT 4743 5499 No trace. (JTT)

Visited by OS (JD) May 1955; (JTT) December 1964; (EGC) January 1965; (JP) April 1975.

References

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