Camelon

File:War Memorial, Camelon (geograph 5346643).jpg

Human activity at Camelon pre-dates the Romans, as Bronze Age items{{Cite web|last1=Breeze|first1=David J.|last2=Rich-Gray|first2=Denise|title='Fire pits' at Camelon, Stirlingshire|url=http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_110/110_513_517.pdf|website=archaeologydataservice|access-date=2 December 2017|archive-date=4 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204114510/http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archiveDS/archiveDownload?t=arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_110/110_513_517.pdf|url-status=live}} have been recovered from graves in the area.{{Cite book|last1=Callander|first1=J. Graham|title=Proceedings Of The Society Of Antiquaries Of Scotland 1922-1923 Vol.57|date=1923|publisher=Neill and Son Ltd|location=Edinburgh|pages=243–250|url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.530816/2015.530816.proceedings-of#page/n283/mode/2up/search/camelon|access-date=2 December 2017}}

Camelon is the site of a series of Roman fortifications built between 80 and 83 AD.{{Cite web|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/46920/falkirk-camelon|title=Falkirk, Camelon|access-date=2017-11-18|work=CANMORE|publisher=Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland|archive-date=2 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202102814/https://canmore.org.uk/site/46920/falkirk-camelon|url-status=live}} Camelon has been suggested as the southern fort of the Roman Gask Ridge separating the Highlands from the Lowlands.

The Roman fort was under a mile north of the Antonine Wall.{{Cite web|title=Camelon Antonine Fort & Marching Camps|url=http://roman-britain.co.uk/places/camelon.htm|website=Roman Britain|access-date=2 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607203354/http://roman-britain.co.uk/places/camelon.htm|archive-date=7 June 2017|url-status=dead}} A Roman altar was found at Bogton Farm 1000 yards (under a kilometre) west of the fort.{{Cite web|title=Altar, Camelon|date=18 June 2014|url=https://vimeo.com/98564609|access-date=2 December 2017|archive-date=10 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110010000/https://vimeo.com/98564609|url-status=live}} A Samian ware platter, possibly also associated with the site was found, and can now be viewed at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow.{{Cite web|title=Samian Ware Platter, Camelon|date=20 August 2015|url=https://vimeo.com/136809536|access-date=2 December 2017|archive-date=30 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221230091343/https://vimeo.com/136809536|url-status=live}}

File:Antonine.Wall.Roman.forts.jpg from west to east: Bishopton, Old Kilpatrick, Duntocher, Cleddans, Castlehill, Bearsden, Summerston, Balmuildy, Wilderness Plantation, Cadder, Glasgow Bridge, Kirkintilloch, Auchendavy, Bar Hill, Croy Hill, Westerwood, Castlecary, Seabegs, Rough Castle, Camelon, Watling Lodge, Falkirk, Mumrills, Inveravon, Kinneil, Carriden]]

File:Scottishantiquar1617edin orig 0233.png

Camelon and its connections with Arthur's O'on have been mentioned in relation to Camelot, but the name 'Camelon' may be an antiquarian neologism coined after the 15th century, with its earlier name being Carmore or Carmure.{{Cite book|last1=Gibb|first1=Alexander|title=The Stirling Antiquary: Reprinted from "The Stirling Sentinel," 1888-[1906].|date=1904|publisher=Cook & Wylie|location=Stirling|pages=349–365|url=https://archive.org/stream/stirlingantiqua01unkngoog#page/n361/mode/2up/search/camelon|access-date=9 December 2017}}{{Cite web|last1=Rohl|first1=Darrell, Jesse|title=More than a Roman Monument: A Place-centred Approach to the Long-term History and Archaeology of the Antonine Wall|url=http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/9458/1/DarrellRohl_PhDThesis_2014.pdf?DDD6+#page=347|website=Durham Theses|publisher=Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online ref: 9458|access-date=14 October 2017|archive-date=14 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014184532/http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/9458/1/DarrellRohl_PhDThesis_2014.pdf?DDD6+#page=347|url-status=live}} Hector Boece was the first historian to mention Camelon{{Cite book|last1=Stewart|first1=William|title=The buik of the croniclis of Scotland : or, A metrical version of the History of Hector Boece|date=1858|publisher=Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, and Roberts|location=London|page=42|url=https://archive.org/stream/buikofcronicliso01boec#page/42/mode/2up/search/camelon|access-date=2 December 2017|ref=Boece}} in his Historia Gentis Scotorum of 1522.{{Cite book|last1=Christison|first1=David|title=Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland|date=1901|publisher=Printed for the Society by Neill and Company|location=Edinburgh|pages=329–417|url=https://archive.org/stream/proceedingssoci16scotgoog#page/n383/mode/2up/search/camelon|access-date=2 December 2017|ref=Christison}} Vespasian was supposed to have won a battle at Camelon and captured the crown of the Pictish kings.Raphael Holinshed, The Scottish chronicle, vol. 1 (Arbroath, 1806), p. 77.Hector Boece and John Bellenden, The History and Chronicles of Scotland, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1831), pp. 103-104. Stories of a legendary Roman harbour at Camelon first appeared in 1695. The legend of Camelon's twelve brass gates was also widespread albeit dubious.{{Cite book|last1=Skene|first1=William Forbes|title=The four ancient books of Wales : containing the Cymric poems attributed to the bards of the sixth century|date=1868|publisher=Edmonston|location=Edinburgh|page=411|url=https://archive.org/stream/fourancientbooks02skenuoft#page/410/mode/2up/search/camelon|access-date=2 December 2017}} More mundane items like leather shoes were found when Tesco's supermarket was being constructed.{{Cite news|title=Roman artefacts found at Camelon Tesco site|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-15165914|access-date=2 December 2017|agency=bbc|date=4 October 2011|archive-date=4 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104163224/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-15165914|url-status=live}}

Camelon developed when the canals were built in the 18th and 19th centuries. Much of the Forth and Clyde Canal opened in the 1770s over a decade after the Carron Iron Works were established. The Union Canal opened in 1822 and brought traffic from Edinburgh to Port Downie where the canals met.{{Cite news|last1=Scott|first1=Ian|title=Camelon was the 'ancient metropolis of the Picts'|url=https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/camelon-was-the-ancient-metropolis-of-the-picts-1-3917763|access-date=2 December 2017|agency=The Falkirk Herald|date=17 October 2015|archive-date=3 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203082706/https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/camelon-was-the-ancient-metropolis-of-the-picts-1-3917763|url-status=live}} A couple of decades later saw the coming of the railways. In 1831 the village was described as having a population of 809, with 250 men and boys employed in nail making.{{Cite book|title=The new statistical account of Scotland|date=1845|publisher=W. Blackwood and Sons|location=Edinburgh and London|pages=18–23|url=https://archive.org/stream/newstatisticalac08edin#page/n305/mode/2up/search/camelon|access-date=11 October 2017}} Historical industries included nail making,{{Cite book|last1=Gillespie|first1=Robert|title=Round about Falkirk : with an account of the historical and antiquarian landmarks of the counties of Stirling and Linlithgow|date=1879|publisher=Dunn & Wright|location=Glasgow|pages=60–80|url=https://archive.org/stream/roundaboutfalkir00gill#page/78/mode/2up/search/camelon|access-date=2 December 2017}} a tar processing plant and other chemical works,[http://www.electricscotland.com/history/falkirk/camelon.htm Villages of Falkirk - Camelon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014073819/http://www.electricscotland.com/history/falkirk/camelon.htm |date=14 October 2012 }} www.electricscotland.com. Retrieved 2011-05-08 a shipbuilding business near Lock Sixteen{{Cite web|title=OS 25 inch 1892-1949|url=http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=56.0018&lon=-3.8144&layers=168&b=1|website=National Library of Scotland|publisher=Ordnance Survey|access-date=26 October 2017|archive-date=30 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130162106/http://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=56.0018&lon=-3.8144&layers=168&b=1|url-status=live}} and a distillery at Rosebank.{{Cite news|last1=Scott|first1=Ian|title=Rosebank announcement raises whisky fans' spirits|url=https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/rosebank-announcement-raises-whisky-fans-spirits-1-4622959|access-date=2 December 2017|agency=Falkirk Herald|date=25 November 2017|archive-date=2 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202153038/https://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/rosebank-announcement-raises-whisky-fans-spirits-1-4622959|url-status=live}} In the early 20th century W. Alexander & Sons set up a bus service and coachbuilders in Camelon. A flight of locks which joined the Union Canal with the Forth and Clyde Canal brought business to the village. This was replaced in 2002 with the Falkirk Wheel, a rotating boat lift.

File:The Union Inn.jpg, reflected in the canal]]

People from Camelon are known locally as Mariners.{{Cite web|last1=Scott|first1=Ian|title=Camelon|url=http://www.falkirklocalhistorysociety.co.uk/home/index.php?id=29|website=Falkirk Local History Society|access-date=2 December 2017|archive-date=3 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203082726/http://www.falkirklocalhistorysociety.co.uk/home/index.php?id=29|url-status=live}} The name is probably best remembered by the Mariner Leisure Centre and in Mariners' Day. Mariners' Day was an annual children's fayre held on the second Saturday in June. It included a parade and a crowning ceremony of the Queen along with fun and games for the children of Camelon.{{Cite news |author=Jill Buchanan |date=25 October 2014 |title=Camelon Mariners may be on the march again |publisher=Falkirk Herald |url=http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/community/camelon-mariners-may-be-on-the-march-again-1-3581846 |access-date=21 March 2016 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924010114/http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/news/community/camelon-mariners-may-be-on-the-march-again-1-3581846 |url-status=live }}

Camelon has good access for a village of its size with Camelon railway station lying on the Cumbernauld Line and the Edinburgh to Dunblane line. Next to the station there are amenities including the Mariner Leisure Centre. The main road through Camelon is the A803 road which provides access to Falkirk.

Camelon is home to the football club Camelon Juniors, who play at Carmuirs Park next to the Forth and Clyde Canal. The club was founded in 1920 and currently compete in the {{Scottish football updater|Camelon}}.

• List of places in Falkirk council area

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.falkirklocalhistorysociety.co.uk/home/index.php?id=29 Falkirk Local History Society page on Camelon]
• [http://www.scottish-places.info/towns/townfirst305.html Gazetteer for Scotland webpage on Camelon]

{{Falkirk Towns & Villages}}

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Category:Villages in Falkirk (council area)

Category:Roman legionary fortresses in Scotland