It’s Time For A Bath!
The remains at Bearsden give great insights into Roman civilisation
DURING the early 1970s, developers in Bearsden stumbled upon evidence of a Roman fort, part of which was a stone bathhouse. It was one of a chain of forts on the Antonine Wall, and the discovery was so significant that the bathhouse was officially given World Heritage status in 2008.
The baths can be found 180m (200 yards) east along Roman Road from Bearsden Cross. A gate gives access to a marvellous example of the survival of ancient remains.
“When you visit the bathhouse, you have the opportunity to walk through the remains in the same way in which the Romans did, from room to room, which helps to understand how it worked,” says Dr Rebecca Jones, head of archaeology and world heritage at Historic Environment Scotland. “You can also see how the outflow from the bathhouse served to flush the toilet block.
“Much of the remains were quite slight – detectable during archaeological excavations but not necessarily easy to display,” she continues. “Whereas the bathhouse, being stone-built, was better preserved – the best bit is definitely on display!
“By walking around the site beyond the bathhouse you can get an idea of the layout of the fort. The fort platform is visible as a raised area in Bearsden, and the ground drops away on either side. Also, the road through Bearsden next to the bathhouse sits on top of the road