A NEW book on the Antonine Wall has just been published.
It’s been written by Dr. David Breeze – the Historic Scotland official who led the bid for World Heritage Site status.
“Edge of Empire: The Antonine Wall” chronicles Scotland’s Roman Frontier, which stretches from Bo’ness to Old Kilpatrick.
The Bridgeness Roman Slab, the fortlet at Kinneil in Bo’ness and historic Kinneil House all feature in the glossy 128-page book, produced by Edinburgh publishers Birlinn.
The publication highlights Kinneil as the best place to see a fortlet along the Antonine Wall – and Roughcastle, near Bonnybridge, as one of the key sites to see evidence of a Roman fort. It also gives clues into the origins of the name “Grahamsdyke” – the local title of the Antonine Wall.
Dr. Breeze visited Bo’ness as the World Heritage bid was being prepared – and talked to the Friends of Kinneil group about the area’s Roman roots. He was also present in Canada last week as UNESCO confirmed World Heritage Site status for the Antonine Wall.
Former Friends’ chairman Adrian Mahoney – now Falkirk Council’s convener of environment and heritage – said the new publication was welcome.
“This is a beautifully illustrated book underlines why the Antonine Wall is so important to the communities of central Scotland and why it was a natural choice to become a World Heritage Site.
“It’s been written in a very accessible way and I’m sure will be popular with historians and the general public alike.”
He added: “I know early copies are already selling well at Kinneil Museum – and people in Bo’ness have been placing orders at our bookshops.”
A spokesperson for Birlinn said: “David Breeze takes us along the length of the wall telling the story of the Roman invasion, how the wall was built and how life along its length was lived. Scholarly, yet accessible, this fascinating book contains beautiful illustrations and photographs to bring to life once more Rome’s most northerly frontier.”
Dr. Breeze prepared the bid for World Heritage Site status for the Antonine Wall and now leads the team implementing the management plan for the frontier.
He was formerly Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments for Scotland and has written other books on both the Antonine Wall and Hadrian’s Wall as well as Roman Scotland and the Roman army.
He is an honorary professor at the universities of Durham, Edinburgh and Newcastle, and is chairman of the International Congress of Roman Frontier Studies. He lives in Edinburgh and is married with two sons.
The new book is available from Kinneil Museum and Callendar House Museum in Falkirk, as well as all good bookshops.
You can also buy copies from The Friends of Kinneil Amazon Online Store.
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