‘The dates? August 4th to 11th, 2000.
My business, "Simply the Best Professionals", is a wedding consultancy. We are an e-commerce business and have two web sites: www.stbprofessionals.com and www.scottishweddingsonline.com. When BBC Manchester (Digital /Knowledge Channel) contacted us in August to ask whether or not we would be prepared to take part in a television programme about swapping jobs, we thought that the perfect person to exchange with would be Kay Callander [next door] who helps to supervise the Trimontium Exhibition [and the Trust agreed]

While Kay travelled to Loch Awe, Argyll, to organise a wedding, I found out about Trimontium - divining, diving and digging ! The best place to start was the museum and that was where I met DG, who couldn’t fail to inspire me with his obvious enthusiasm for the Trimontium Trust.

I had a good look round the exhibition and worked with Duncan to welcome the visitors. The following day, when I went divining at Trimontium with Walter Elliot, I had the layout of the fort imprinted on my mind. Divining is something I have often wanted to try, so, when the rods ‘crossed’ for the first time I was delighted. I joined a group of people on the Trimontium Walk, led by Bill Lonie and DG, and gained more insight into the life of the Roman people camped around Newstead. I was very grateful for this opportunity, especially when the BBC suggested that I take some parts of the walk scheduled for two days later ! I read a great deal of articles over the next two days and stayed up into the wee hours trying to learn material for the walk. This, for me, was the most nerve-wracking part of the week. Walter Elliot accompanied the television crew and me to Leaderfoot where two divers tried, not only to find a Roman stone (which would give a clue to the whereabouts of the Roman bridge), but any stone at all. The water was so murky from the recent deluge of rain that the divers’ cause was - nearly - hopeless. One of the highlights of the week was having the privilege of going on a dig at South Shields. Under the expert tutelage of Terry I found all sorts of bits and pieces, including a tooth, fragments of roof tiles and bones. I was shown how to use a theodolite and how to measure the height of the ground from sea level. I enjoyed myself so much that, at the end of the day, I did not want to go home! My overriding impression of my week with the Trimontium Trust is of a group of people totally dedicated to the furtherance of the Trust’s objectives. Their energy and enthusiasm fired my imagination and inspired a desire to find out much more. Thankyou for such a special week and for making me so welcome.’

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Glad to have had you with us, Miranda. Hope you enjoy your Hon Membership; see you at the lectures. Behind the scenes it was an interesting experience for the Trust. The TV crew were youngsters - a girl director; a girl research assistant; and a young cameraman. We co-operated with their requests and, as is normal, they took far more film than was eventually shown. We must have mentioned in conversation our search for the ‘lost’ bridge and they immediately wondered if the divers would come back for the film - during the week. To humour them (well-knowing that Sunday is the non-fishing day) we made inquiries and, lo and behold, there was nobody down to fish on the Thursday - and the divers came. They managed to bring out one stone - but it was Georgian. They’ve promised us to come back this year - when the water is low.

To let Miranda have some hands-on ‘dig’ experience Nancy had to take her to our friends at South Shields where they are presently digging all the time - and that was a big success. We didn’t actually see the programme on TV - we didn’t have the national coverage we imagined - but they sent us a video (which Walter says he hasn’t watched). These performers!

(Kay had the tremendously hard work of dressing up and flying round Highland castles, lochs and hotels, organising transport and champagne receptions, ironing bridesmaids’ dresses etc - and not a diviner, a diver, or a digger in sight).

The author of the Study has been sent a large number of questions and comments and the final version of the Study is awaited.

The following are the four Development Options which the Study puts forward:-

1. Incremental ie retaining the Museum in Melrose; in due course moving to bigger premises; improving information and access at the site; result - possibly increased visitor satisfaction, if not numbers, necessarily.
2. Incremental Plus ie as in 1above, plus ‘activity/living history weekends’ at/near the site; weapon demonstrations; battle etc re-enactments; Roman food, crafts. Or a single ‘festival’ cf English Heritage events and the ‘burgeoning re-enactment market’. There is apparently a re-enactment group associated with almost every period of history in Britain.
3. Radical ie create an interpretation of the site, on the ground, before the visitor forgets. Conclusion - relocate Melrose Exhibition near site in existing building or purpose-built, and refurbish to act as introduction to site; plus retail & catering.
4. Radical Plus ie something more than a run of the mill visitor Centre - something unique. At Trimontium this is surely reconstruction of the amphitheatre - not allowed on the original site, but wood-built near the V. Centre as a base for the ‘events’ described in Option 2 above. (Also linked to viaduct and story of the Tweed crossing). Cost - c£650,000. ‘If done well, there would be no equivalent experience in the Roman world’ (?).

It is not something that can be decided without a great deal of time and research, (as well as appropriate finance) and this is what we will be trying to do this year, while keeping our feet on the ground and our current activities going.. As the Study says, “In the end the choice of option for development depends as much on judgement and even ambition as on solid fact”. If members would like a copy of the Draft (with all its admitted imperfections but certainly more technical details) or the Final Report (when this comes) please feel free to request from the Hon Sec. Comments and advice would also be welcome. We have come quite a way already since 1988. How far should we look to go, in the post-Dome scenario?

In mid-2000 we discovered (too late) what we should have known, viz that an existing site building (now sold) had been for sale for three years, with permission for conversion to housing. Broomhill Farm Steading - Victorian, two-storey, red-sandstone and built in the form of a hollow square with a courtyard in the middle, stands about 150 yards West of the A68 (at Trimontium’s back door), some 300 yards South of the A68 bridge at Leaderfoot and 100 yards North of the Melrose Bypass/A68 roundabout. Its part-dereliction and dependence on spring water and soakaway drainage in themselves would have been problems for a Centre - but for an instant we did have visions of a facility covering all the features of the area - the Eildons (tribal centre and King Arthur); Trimontium; Thomas the Rhymer (viewpoint now renovated); the five crossings of the Tweed (nowhere displayed or explained), the ‘Roman’ Summerhouse, St Cuthbert at Old Melrose, and a Tourist Information Centre.

I liked the Roman army but they put me in a cell
They gave me stue and carrots to and colliflower aswel
I’m hungry now I have to eat I cannot stand this smell My tum keeps rumbblen on....

I miss the Roman army I have nothing left to do
I wish I was back on the Tweed to fight along with you
You are there and I am here, there’s nothing I can do I must keep marching on...

I joined the Roman army just to see what I could see
I went up lots of mountains and sailed across the sea
I saw the British army I thought this is not for me And my oars keep splashing on...

However, around 1900 an Earlston fieldwalker called J M Corrie, while searching the site of Newstead for Roman remains, noted that occasionally he would pick up a white pebble which had been rubbed on one or more sides. Realising that this was from human use, he collected them and published a paper on ‘burnishers’ or ‘polishers’, his descriptions, as their exact use was unknown in 1913.

Corrie passed his knowledge on to Bruce and Walter Mason of Selkirk who were walking the site in the 1920s; they in turn passed it on to me (c1955) and I passed it on to Jack and Caroline Cruickshank when they started walking the site in 1966. Taken together, fieldwalkers must have picked up around two hundred rubbed pebbles from the area of the Roman fort complex. The Cruickshank Collection alone numbers 43 polished pebbles, mainly from the fort, and 17 rounded pebbles from the fields around it.

It was only when a wooden plough-sole, studded with similarly rounded pebbles was dug up in Denmark in 1935, that their use was recognised. They were an anti-wear protection for the wood as it went through the soil. Pollen analysis of the peat suggested a pre-Roman date, but later lignite-extraction dating suggested that a late mediaeval date was more likely. That accounted for the rounded specimens.

Of the highly polished pebbles, a proposed use was as insets on axles to prevent wear ie as primitive ball-bearings. Taking the Newstead examples as guides, the wearing part of the axle must have been more than half a metre in diameter, judging by the curve of the pebble face. In practical terms, this would have been necessary to prevent friction-heating during motion, as this heat would have melted the adhesive which held the pebbles in place. A smaller diameter of axle would have caused greater friction. Another suggestion is that they were anti-wear protection on the bottom of a slipe (‘wooden wheelless platform’) or sledge. This type of conveyance was still used in the Borders into the last century, and that idea cannot be ruled out.

As a fieldwalker, I note where I pick up objects of interest. In the period January to April 2000 I found five polished axle pebbles on the line of the North-South road within the fort, and one at the entrance of the North granary. Four of the five were just inside the 2nd century North Gate.

This set me thinking. I never find the rounded ploughsole pebbles inside the fort, but I do find axle pebbles there - and often on the lines of roads near the North and East Gates. So, could the Romans have used a heavy-duty, short-haul wheeled (or non-wheeled) vehicle as transport from the river into the fort? If so, we had better start looking for a quay near the bridge.

Dating was not so much of a problem. Both plough-sole and axle pebbles have been found in 5th/6th century levels at the Whithorn excavations. Then I remembered that during the 1992 excavations South of the railway line Simon Clarke dug out a cremation/ritual scoop which contained 15 or so axle pebbles, along with bones, iron nails and a lot of carbon in a secure 2nd century dating. So the Romans (or the natives) at Trimontium did use white quartzite pebbles as ball-bearings.

RUTH (USA COUNTRY WALKERS) WRITES
from Greece: ‘...building the tower which will finally complete our 150 year old house. We also picked about 500kg of olives (120kg oil); the work is fun for about the first five minutes...’

Readers will remember that there was no obvious hollow at Inveresk, but only a partly-fan-shaped series of post-holes in the sandy soil, arranged in curves, one behind the other. If this was not the foundation works of a grandstand for an arena, or a horse-training ring, or some kind of loading bay, how was it to be explained? Mr Neighbour indicated that a recent suggestion was that the structure was not Roman at all. It was very like a kind of open-air church/folk moot found at various Anglian settlements (eg Yeavering Bell, on the Border) in the 7th century, long after the Romans.

"An Imperial ‘cursus’?"

In answer to Tim’s request for helpful suggestions from the audience Dr Bill Lonie wrote identifying himself as "the person who sought your comment on the suggestion that some of the features at both Trimontium and Inveresk were the result of an Imperial Progress. From personal experience of Company Chairmen and such-like Heids o’ State, these visitations were, and presumably still are, the occasions of frenzied and generally disruptive activity. Still, a good redding-out seldom does any harm, tempered by the need to leave some room for improvement for Chairmannerly comment.

For quite another reason I have been doing a preliminary desk study of Roman Imperial cursus, in the limited sources immediately to hand. Several Emperors seem to have been addicted to chariot-racing. Certainly the tumult took it seriously. The Circus Maximus of Rome had a ‘working area’of 620 by 110m, with spectator pavilions/press boxes at both turning points. Some 160m at the NW end of the cursus was clear of the central wall, presumably for assembly and starting. A villa mosaic near Barcelona depicts a 4-horse racing chariot. Spain was then a leading exporter of race-horses.
What about Inveresk?

The stadium at Aphrodisias, W Turkey, was 220 x 30m internally; quite small.

"The hippodrome" (lovely word) of Cyrene, N Libya, was 185 x 40m internally, open at the N end, rounded at the S. At Constantinople it was attached to the Great Palace, with direct access to a special section of terracing opposite (SW) to the NW turning point, much as the starting area pavilion of the Circus Maximus in Rome (the plan could well have copied the Circus Maximus).

At Inveresk you could have the shadow of the rounded turning-end of a cursus and its attendant pavilion. In the outback of Inveresk a grand hippodrome can scarcely have been expected, but a visiting Emperor might well like to see his own charioteers matched against local talent on an improvised course; and perhaps select a few horses and charioteers to return with him to Rome.

At Trimontium I have long pondered the function of the inner East Annexe. Geophysics, air photographs and, more recently, tattie-howking have all indicated that there was a wide spread of stones, generally fist to head size, though many larger, centrally along the length of the enclosure.

" no inner East Annexe pits"

The dimensions of the inner East Annexe, 270 x 60m, are about right for a cursus, while the fort corners and gate- towers of the East wall of the fort, and the wall itself, would provide excellent viewing, even for an Emperor.

From a desk-study of Curle, 1911, again for quite another reason, it appears that the inner East Annexe had some function or status that made it inappropriate to dig pits in that area.. Two chariot-wheels were deposited in James Curle’s pit XXIII at one of the fort abandonments. The chariot itself presumably joined the withdrawal, laden with more valuable goods than spare wheels.

That the inner East Annexe served as a cursus is a long-shot suggestion, splendidly difficult to prove or disprove.

An early postcard celebration of Trimontium fort shows, as I recall (Newsletter ‘97 No. 11 p13), a chariot dashing about in fine style. See below.* This is generally dismissed as antiquarian nonsense. Great if it should prove to be correct!"

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*‘Mercury urged the charioteers
That tore up the sacred ground
And the Eildons echoed the merry cheers
Of a Roman victor crowned.

The Romans fought and the Romans played,
And the Tweed went singing by,
And oft in the glade a Pictish maid
Would watch their chariots fly.’

Bailie George H. Tait - sorry, not a hit!

Dean Burgon’s lines about the beauty of the ancient city of Petra in the Jordan desert seemed to sum up the enjoyment of Win and Bill Lonie in their November’99 trip of a lifetime in the Eastern Mediterranean. Marvels there were a-plenty and Bill’s slides and paced commentary shared that enjoyment among an appreciative audience in the Corn Exchange on Thursday 16 November in the second lecture of the Autumn series.

The maps and pictures traced the journey and the civilisations - Egyptians, Jewish, Greek, Roman and the mysterious Nabateans, the Edomites of the Bible. There were the ruins of huge processional ways; monumental temples; grossly larger than life-size statues; and finally the rosy-red carved sandstone cliff-wall tombs and fairy-tale facades of Petra, reached by a kilometre’s walk through the narrow, natural ravine of the siq. The people of Petra had levied duties on the caravan-borne goods passing through their territory and in that sun-drenched, sand-strewn, moon-rock desert land had spent their wealth in a uniquely ostentatious way. The vote of thanks paid tribute to the speaker’s qualities that had seen him once described as an ‘ammeter archaeologist’- an apt compliment, in its way, to his ability to spark off ideas (like the amphitheatre) - and included his willingness to toil for the Trust (especially in relation to the Walk) and his ability to provide, as witnessed by the present occasion, a feast for the eyes and a pleasure for the ears.

But what a size it was! Similar monastery sites at Coldingham, Sprouston and Dunbar were tiny in comparison with such a huge and busy enclosure.

Before taking questions Dr Lowe referred to the very important site of Old Melrose, in which Walter Elliot had been taking a renewed interest, on behalf of the Trust. With the example of the Hoddom discoveries before us, what might well await a careful geophysics investigation there?

The lecture was an object lesson in the art of deduction and in giving the vote of thanks Mr Alistair Sinclair voiced the full appreciation of the audience, (including the Evatts, who had come from Edinburgh by public transport!) Thereafter members and friends enjoyed the Gala Night refreshments.

The ideas put forward include alterations to the existing railway embankment (which leads up to and joins the viaduct) and the gully on its Western side, facing the fort. Without obtruding into the environment we wondered if it would be possible to show a grassy area on the side of the embankment - like a rampart without a wall in front - and deepen the gully to look like a Roman ditch. Both features already exist. Could we make part of them look ‘Roman’? At the same time we should have to consult the Biodiversity Officer of SBC to take account of the existing plant life and any other wild flowers etc which it would be in keeping to encourage there.

If we were doing that, could we think of a viewing platform on the embankment, perhaps shaded by the existing trees, in the form of a wooden signal tower (as per Trajan’s Column or indeed not unlike an appropriate 19th century railway signal box), leaving enough width for a maintenance vehicle to reach the bridge? If allowed, we think it would help to create the appropriate atmosphere and add to the enjoyment of the view..

‘Curle book on the internet’

The surrounds of the existing viewing platforms on the closed road need to be tidied up. The little white sticks marking out the amphitheatre shape are no match for the cattle, and we wonder if we could replace them with white stones which would not be moved so easily.

James Curle’s 1911 book ‘A Roman Frontier Post and its People’ is indispensible to an appreciation of Trimontium. It would be even better known if it were put on the internet (at a cost of c £4,000). (En passsant, we hear that the Bradford University Report (1987-98) may be published at the end of this year). At the same time we have to arrange a means of constantly updating our own website, an essential tool today.

As regards the Exhibition, we require more costumes, the donning of a variety of which is the high spot of a school visit. A made-up path is needed to the Summerhouse at Drygrange to make the final approach easier for visitors; a brightly-paved surround for the grey Leaderfoot Trimontium marker, to make it more visible; a bridge indicator there too - once we have established the Roman bridge line; and a scrutiny of the Broomhill plantation line for traces of Dere Street.

After the Hoddom lecture Old Melrose deserves a geophysical survey. In addition, do traces of cemeteries and temples lie to the East of the River Leader, coming in from the North? Road signs to the Trimontium site are non-existent and would have to be applied and paid for. Most important of all - one day (in daring prophetic mode ), one day we may well have a ‘base’ at Newstead or nearby, and we shall have to start planning soon (a) for financial backing and (b) making the ‘wider community’ case, with as much support as we can muster, to achieve it.

‘Follow in the footsteps of the Romans’ is the title of the eight-panel coloured souvenir leaflet of the Trimontium Walk which we make available to Walkers at tea-time (for £1). Members may purchase for 50p + a stamp. Suggested by Quentin McLaren of Tweed Forum and designed by associates of Castle Douglas (we met half way, in Moffat) it ‘personalises’ eight of the ‘stops’ on the walk viz Eildon View; Roman Panorama; Tweed Tower (the first platform); Arri’s Altar (the Stone); The Emperor’s Box (amphitheatre platform); Lonie’s Lookout (viaduct view of amphitheatre); Summerhouse Ahoy! (view to Drygrange); and Walter’s Way (track back to Newstead). It has six photos (inc. the original milestone ‘Trimontio’) and four drawings - took much effort and time, and complements Walter’s The Trimontium Story (£1.50). We tell the story of the seven (700BC) bronze axes found in 1980 at the foot of the mid-Eildon in A Hoard of Axes (50p).

We sell 8 postcards at 25p each or 5 for £1, viz the fort (air); Trimontium Stone(+ 2 children); Trim.Stone (+ E Hill North); Caracalla; Rom. soldier figure (Arrius); chamfron (Trajan’s Col. horse b’ground); replica helmet - (a) front; (b) back.

We were asked ‘Where do your visitors come from and what do they think of you?’, put out a voluntary non-threatening ‘form’ in mid-season and had 95 replies, making (almost) 95 different suggestions, some of which we had thought of. One complained about a lack of information actually on site - but that was before Sept.2nd! Another mentioned a children’s audioguide - that will go on the ‘to do’ list. (Most visitors, by far, come from the UK. Borders Tourism, by the way, mainly promotes Borders ‘short breaks’).

Subs and Gift Aid. See separate sheets. Please keep ££ coming!

New Members. Happy to have them at any time - schools too.