Balmuildy Fort

Entering Balmuildy Wood by Lairich Rig is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

This fort predates the Antonine Wall and was built by the Second Legion Augusta, under the command of Quintus Lollius Urbicus. The 6th Legfion also had a distance slab erected nearby.

Found in the North Gate “For the Emperor Caesar Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Augustus Pius, father of his country, the Second Legion Augusta built this under Quintus Lollius Urbicus, emperor’s propraetorian legate.” RIB 2192. Honorific Building Inscription of the Second Legion

This fort is one of two built of stone on the Antonine Wall and is 1.6 hectares in size. (A football pitch is 0.71 hectares.) One unusual feature of the fort is that it had two bath houses most likely reflecting different periods of occupation.

Barley and spelt wheat (used by the Romans for breadmaking) have been found here. Seaweed was also found, probably used as a fertiliser.