I visited the Roman fort at Rough Castle today, for the first time in probably 40-45 years. I think my dad took me when I was small, although there’s a chance I’m (mis)remembering a visit from having seen photographs and what I otherwise know about sites along the Antonine Wall: the spectre of memory at the edge of empire.

What most sticks in my mind are the lilia, the defensive pit traps on the outside of the wall (seen in the first picture). The last picture shows the line of the Antonine Wall, which was only ever a turf wall with the deep ditch on the left.

It made me a little sad that I was alone there at what is a very impressive Roman site, apart from some dog walkers who seemed oblivious to what was beneath their feet, and a cold and bitter rain that refused to leave my side.

#RoughCastle #AntonineWall #RomanFort #RomanScotland #RomanBritain #Archaeology