|
The Romans invaded Scotland three times. The first invasion was by Agricola in 78 AD . The majority of roads appear to date from this first invasion. The principal road (Dere Street) took a route to the east through the Cheviots to the Forth near Edinburgh. A secondary route (Watling Street) ran from Carlisle north to Crawford.
The Roman Army were quick to recognise the value of Annandale as a route into the Midland Valley of Scotland, building a road from Carlisle to the Forth and Clyde. They were interested in the Southern Uplands as an area of potential conquest, later briefly as an occupied province, but for most of the time as an area where it could meet and defeat threats from the Caledonian tribes.
The gravel terraces of the Evan Water near Beattock were well-drained and easily dug, so preserve the remains of up to six marching-camps and semi-permanent fortifications. The area was important enough to have had several fortlets with maybe one or two centuries (80 -160 auxiliary troops) in each – enough to patrol and repair the road and to keep local tribes from casual raiding. The full detail of Roman occupation is still sketchy, but the Roman Army certainly marched near Moffat.
The road ran north from Stanwix near Carlisle and met another from just north of Dumfries and Lochmaben, then continued north up Annandale. Substantial portions of the road survive north and south of Johnstonebridge, before the route crosses the Annan somewhere between Dalmakethar and Tassieholm. The road contiuess north to a group of marching-camps and a fortlet at Milton (Tassieholm), crossing the Annan again (maybe at Holms Bridge) before crossing the Beattock gravels just east of Lochhouse Tower. North of there the Roman road crosses the southern approach into Moffat and heads up Chapel Hill across the Moffat Golf Course.
|
