Nigel's Photo Blog

Introduction This evening, I am focusing on Poltross Burn Milecastle near Gilsland on Hadrian’s Wall in northern England.Location is approximately forty-two miles west of Newcastle-upon-Tyne . Information on Roman Milecastles Regularly spaced at one Roman mile intervals along the Wall. Performed function as fortified gateway with double gates at front and rear. Typically measure 60 by 50 Roman feet. Contained one or two small outbuildings, possible barrack-blocks. Usually contained an oven in N.W. corner and a staircase in opposite north corner to provide access via ladder to a tower over the north gate. Between each milecastle (or fortlet) was situated two observation towers (or turrets). The towers were thus spaced one-third of a Roman mile apart. Garrisoned by a complement of 20-30 auxiliary soldiers.  Aspect of Poltross Burn Milecastle  Poltross Burn Milecastle, Hadrian’s Wall Poltross Burn Milecastle, Hadrian’s Wall    More ...

This evening, my post is influenced by a recent press report (Times of Dec 19th 2025) that scientific analysis of sewer drains from the Roman fort of Vindolanda (close to Hadrian's Wall ), has shown that the occupants were riddled with three types of intestinal parasite: roundworm,whipworm and Giardia duodenalis .All are spread through the contamination of food, drink or hands by human faeces. Whipworms can grow to about 5cm in length and roundworms 30cm.  The three types of parasite could have led to malnutrition and diarrhoea thus impacting on the effectiveness of the soldiers. The Roman medics had no treatment for the parasites.   Landscape view of Vindolanda looking west.   Similar outcomes were revealed when scientists and archaeologists worked on the 2nd century AD Roman fort on the Antonine Wall at Bearsden, about 7 miles north of central Glasgow in the west of Scotland. Bathhouse remains at Bearsden Roman Fort.   R oman medicine, which was highly...

Introduction This evening I am reporting on the White -throated Dipper, an environmentally threatened small bird which is usually found in fresh water environments.   Information on the Dipper Dippers are easily recognized as a function of their 'jerky' movements when hunting for for food-hence the name.    Whilst not a committed bird-watcher I will certainly jump at the opportunity to capture rare or unusual avian images when opportunity permits. One such opportunity arose a couple of days ago at Rouken Glen Country Park in Glasgow, Scotland. In this case the bird was motionless but I took the image anyway and later received confirmation of identity. Please bear in mind the image was taken with a cellphone camera over some distance, hence quality is not ideal. Dippers are at risk of declining populations due to environmental factors . They are particularly sensitive to changes in water pH levels.There has occurred a 39pct fall in dipper populations since 1995 and th...

Here are a couple of images taken this morning of Highland Cows forming part of a 'fold' (herd) at Pollok Country Park Glasgow , Scotland. More information For more information on Glasgow and Scotland in general please refer Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4. This book is also available via Kindle .

On January 25th of this year I published information on the above John MacLean in my separate  ancestry blog By a chance meeting with a local today I learned that John MacLean is a person of historical importance.The following extract is taken from an article in the Scottish Banner publication:- This year marks 100 years since the death of John Maclean, “the most dangerous man in Britain” and “Lenin’s man in Scotland”.  A Glaswegian born of Highland parents, he was the leading light in the Red Clydeside era. He died at just aged 44 from pneumonia after he’d given his only overcoat to a destitute man. His funeral was one of the largest ever in Glasgow and he was considered both a political pariah and champion of the Scottish working class. Today, MacLean would  be categorised as a hard left militant but from another angle he was simply trying to improve the lot of the grinding poverty in working class Glasgow of the time.He died because he gave his only coat to a destitu...