THE ROMAN’S

A carved stone is built into the south gable of a single pantiled roofed building on the East Side of the farm steading of West Ingliston. In a rectangular stone-framed recess at eye level is a grey sandstone slab (11˝" x 13˝") with the figure of a bird standing with spread wings. It is in bold relief, severely weathered, with head and feet missing, but the body and wings are clear.

Roman Soldier ©

A Roman milestone was discovered at Ingliston. This is the only place in Scotland where an individual milestone has been found and given the miles of road the Romans built it makes it all the more unique. Other markers are in the form of distance slabs on the Antonine Wall.

The milestone is recorded in a catalogue of donations made by the Scottish antiquary Sir Robert Sibbald (1641-1712) who was the owner of Ingliston estate at the time of the discovery. According to the entry it had been found ‘in Ingliston ground in a plain field, near to which several Obelisks are to be seen some erected and others lying on the ground’.

The stone was severely mutilated and two lines had to be added to the text to make it understood. It is now generally agreed that the text ran more or less as follows

I [mp(eratori) Caes(ari) T(ito)/ Ael(io) Hadr(iano) Anto] nino Aug(usto) Pio/ P(atri) P(atriae) Co(n)s(uli) [I]II/ two lines erased/ [Co]h(ors) I Cugernor(um)/ [Tri]monti(o) m(illia) p(assuum)/[...]

‘For the Emperor Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius, father of his country, thrice consul, ..., the first cohort of Cugerni (set this up). From Trimontium ... miles.’

It gives the distance in Roman miles between Ingliston and Trimontium (Newstead) at Melrose.

The missing two lines of text have been deliberately erased in a neat manner that suggests officialdom, this is causing the scholars several problems as to who may have suffered virtual damnatio memoriae after his death during the periods stated.

The milestone may therefore be assigned to the early years of the reign of Antoninus Pius.  As the stone is damaged it is not possible to determine whether the text contained the letters  COS ll or COS lll. This would allow it to be dated with greater accuracy as Antoninus’ second consulship was from AD139-140 while his third was from AD140-144.

Two temporary Roman camps have since been discovered, one at Gogar and one at Ingliston.

Roman Tent ©

The Roman tents were made of leather squares this picture shows a modern canvas reproduction, and the encampment was protected by stakes driven into the ground.

a) A Roman dagger or sword.

b) Parts of the scabbard for the above.

c) A Fibula or clasp (used for fixing belts).

d) A gold ring described as very thin and hollow.

Were discovered during the construction of Gogarburn House

This further strengthens the possibility that the continuation of Dere Street beyond Edinburgh crossed the River Almond in the vicinity of Newbridge or Kirkliston. One might then expect that a fort guarded the bridgehead here.

The distance from this stretch of the Almond to Elginhaugh is approximately 21km; almost exactly the interval separating Elginhaugh from the fort of Oxton at the head of Lauderdale the next military post to the south.

The Ingliston milestone may well have been found at or near the position in which it had been originally erected, beside a major Roman artery of communication. This route was possibly still in use as late as the 14th century, for the accounts of Edward I’s progress through Scotland towards Falkirk in 1298 show that his army passed this way. The King perhaps lodging with the Master of the Templars at Hallyards Castle.

Photographs Ron Day