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history Johnstone History Society The Romans
Agricola, the Governor of the Province of Britain, brought his Roman army to Scotland in AD 80 with the objective of establishing a frontier known as the Antonine Wall between the Firth of Clyde and Forth. Three miles to the east of the village of Kilmacolm they built a fort at Barochan Hill. Patrols sent out from this fort would have given the people of Kilmacolm their first glimpse of the invaders. Prior to the construction of the Antonine Wall, the Romans extended a defensive line of hill forts and signalling towers linked by a roadway, which crossed the moorland in the Northern part of the parish of Kilmacolm and then on to Largs where they had a landing stage. This road ran west, parallel to the south of the Clyde estuary, and crossed the present Port Glasgow Road and High Greenock Road in the parish, and then on to Largs.
The October meeting of the Society will be on the 9th of the month. As usual we meet in the Masonic Hall Collier Street at 7.30pm. Our second speaker of this session will be Bob Will (GUARD) and his subject is Patrick Castle. The Castle stood on the banks of the Kelvin and evidence shows there was a Royal estate at Partick. This I think should prove to be a very informative evening. We hope for a good attendance of members, and any new members or visitors will be made very welcome. Our subscriptions are £10 each and £2 for visitors. These can be paid at the meeting. The Museum continues to open Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between 10.30am and 4pm. On Saturday and Sunday of Doors Open weekend we were open as promised and had quite a busy time; there was a quiz for the children with sweets crisps and drinks, kindly donated by Morrisons, for those who took part. We have several new displays which are well worth a visit, and we also have a number of books, maps and publications which are available to purchase. All of our books etc are on sale at Johnstone history.org and can be paid for via PayPal.
Evidence of the road is still visible. Typically it was 4.5 – 6 metres wide and is marked by wheel ruts in the bare rock. There are clear quarry pits by the side of the road, where rocks have been extracted during its construction. The site of a lookout signal station has been positively identified at Auchinleck Close to the Northern border of Kilmacolm parish with Port Glasgow.
Kilbarchan October 1918
In AD 85 Agricola was recalled to Rome, which signalled a slow retreat by the Romans from Scotland.
Private Archibald MacArthur had worked as a clerk in a house factor’s business and lived at 15 Easwald Bank. His brother James had been killed with the 7th Seaforths at the Battle of Loos in September 1915. He was posted to the 7th Argylls, part of the 51st (Highland) Division. He was killed in action near Mont Huoy, south of Valenciennes. The day after his death the infantry of the division were withdrawn from the battle, and took no further part in the war. Archibald has no grave and is commemorated on Panel 10, Vis-en-Artois Memorial.
The painting (right), by Michael Langford aged 9 years, is a Roman sculpture called “Legion at Milestone XVII” on the Sustrans path between Kilmacolm and Bridge of Weir.
Air Mechanic 2nd Class Joseph Stewart served in the 44th Training Depot Station of the Royal Air Force. Before his conscription in February 1918 he had been working as a grocer with the Kilbarchan Co-op. His father was Francis Stewart, a hand loom weaver, who lived with his wife Emily and their family at 33 Church Street. Joseph was 24 years old when he died of pneumonia in hospital in Oxford. He is buried in Grave H.355 in Kilbarchan Cemetery.
Interested in Photography? Our local camera clubs continually supply us with stunning shots which we use throughout the magazine, sometimes as banners or even front pages. If you’ve been inspired, why not join them and maybe see some of your photographs in print!
Paisley Colour Photographic Club: Thursday evenings at the McMaster Centre, Renfrew. www.paisleycolour.co.uk
Langbank Camera Club: Second and fourth Mondays of the month. For more information please contact Derrick McPherson at langbankcc1@gmail.com.
Gryffe Camera Club: Wednesday night at The Carrick Centre, Houston between 7.30pm and 10pm.
Kilmacolm Camera Club: Tuesday evening, 7.30pm (October to March) at the Kilmacolm New Community Centre, Room 1.01. For more information contact: Billy Blair, Tel: 873383; Janice Stevenson, Tel 873595. Website: clikpic.com/kilcamclub/
Diaporama Meeting Monday evenings at 7.30pm in the Carrick Centre, Houston. For further information contact Hugh Kerr at 01505 612687 or hughkerr14@gmail.com
Deadline date for our November issue - Friday 20-25 OUTDOORS_289 OCTOBER 18.indd 24
Millipede - sent in by Kilmacolm Camera Club
19th October - you don’t want to miss it!! 20/09/2018 13:50:51
