Ancient Scotland- A Bathhouse, Hadrian and Antonine Wall, Northern Frontier

Last Updated on November 25, 2020 by admin

A traveler visiting in the vicinity of Haltwhistle, Northumberland may want to trace the landmarks and ancient history that surrounds the Housesteads Fort. It seems that this particular fort (of Hadrian’s Wall) is one of the most complete of all Roman forts located in Britain. A visit to this site places you in the midst of great countryside views that give you an idea of the beauty associated with Scotland, as well as England.

Housesteads Fort

Hadrian’s Wall was built in 122 AD, where work on Housesteads began about 124 , becoming one of the bear 20 major forts that was added to the wall. In the past, about 800 to 1,000 men would have been stationed at this site. When Antonius Pius (also known as Titus Aurelius Fulvius Boionius Arrius Antoninus Pius) was ruler of the land, the northern frontier transferred to what is now known as modern-day Scotland and the Antonine Wall was built between the location where Glasgow and Edinburgh are now found. Further construction of the fort took place around 162 AD when the northern frontier moved back to Hadrian’s Wall and emperor Septimus Severus was in power.

After Hadrian, during the reign of Antonius Pius, the northern frontier moved into modern-day Scotland and the Antonine Wall was constructed between where Glasgow and Edinburgh are now. At this time, starting around AD 142, a caretaker garrison would have occupied Housesteads. Before long, around AD 162, the northern frontier moved south back to Hadrian’s Wall and further building work took place at Housesteads during the reign of emperor Septimus Severus.

Bearsden Bathhouse

Travel to Bearsden (located just north of Glasgow) to find the Bearsden Bathhouse , close by to the Antonine Wall. Ever since the early 1970s, the existence of this bathhouse came to light when construction workers looking to build a flat uncovered the site of the Bearsden Roman fort, where a bathhouse was found. Luckily, the developers were nice enough to offer the site to the Secretary of State for Scotland for better care. There is evidence that the fort served as home to some before it was abandoned. Occupation probably lasted for about 12 years.

Inside, there were seven rooms that included two warm steam rooms, a hot dry room, and a changing room. Researchers were able to learn a bit about early Romans when they discovered waste left behind in one of the latrine sections. What they found consisted of wheat grain fragments, figs, coriander, celery, hazelnuts, raspberries, and bilberries. It was assessed that there wasn’t a great deal of meat consumed in the local diet.

Eilean Donan Castle

Head for Lochalsh, Highland and you will encounter the Eilean Donan Castle, which has served as the site of many different movies. Situated in an attractive location, there are pieces of the castle that have a history that traces back to the 14th century. Other evidence points to an earlier fort that may have stood on the same site before the castle became reality.