Lyne Fort

About Lyne Fort

Just west of Peebles are the excellently preserved yet little-visited remains of the Roman fort of Lyne. It sat along the road connecting the major Roman fort of Trimontium to Castledykes along the Antonine Wall. Lyne was built during the reign of Antoninus Pius (138 – 171AD) but only occupied for a few years before being abandoned.

Like Trimontium, Lyne had significant stone buildings such as a central command centre or principia, granary, and commandant’s house. Its defensive walls, however, were made of turf, and its barracks blocks were timber-built. Its garrison comprised around 1,000 men including cavalry, attested to by the discovery of a Roman horseshoe in 1901 and the exceptional width of the fort’s roads to accommodate several riders abreast. Cavalry were essential in these frontier lands, being used not just in battle but for reconnaissance, sending rapid messages, and transporting goods when the soldiers were on the move.

The area around Lyne is rich with other Roman remnants. The larger fort of Lyne was replaced by a smaller fortlet on a promontory overlooking the Lyne Water just west of Hallyne Church. Two temporary marching camps occupy an area of open ground to the south of Lyne village a mile to the east of the fort and fortlet. An even older Roman fort built during Agricola’s campaigns in the late 70s through 80s AD on the opposite bank of the Tweed at Easter Happrew. Clearly, this was a vital thoroughfare for the advancing legions and one which warranted heavy fortification.

NB: Postcode shows approximate location. For accuracy use what3words: elated.hush.couriers or National Grid Reference: NT 18780 40560