Arkley, S. L. B., Browne, M. A. E., Albornoz-Parra, L. J. and Barron, H. F. 2011. East Dumbartonshire Geodiversity Audit. British Geological Survey Open Report, OR/09/19. 265pp.
EDC 24: Roman Baths, Bearsden
Grid reference:
Site type: Manmade artifact
Site ownership: Not known (Historic Scotland?)
Current use: Urban
Field surveyor: Mike Browne & Hugh Barron
Current geological designations: None
Date visited: 19th March 2009
Site map
Summary description
The remains of the Bearsden Roman Bath House are located a little to the east of the Bearsden Fort, which is thought to be one of those built along the Antonine Wall to house the troops. Demolition of Victorian mansions and an archaeological dig in 1973 revealed most of the ground plan of the fort. The baths are reputed to be one of the best preserved examples of a bath house in Scotland. The site is cared for by Historic Scotland.
An information board illustrates how the Bath House would have appeared when in use and puts the building into a regional context, but there is no mention of the materials used to construct the building.
The buildings appear to have been built from local Carboniferous blonde sandstone. The original flagstones are of a similar sandstone, some of which display excellent fossilised ripples.
EDC 24: Stratigraphy and rock types
Age: Carboniferous Formation: Not known
Rock type: Sandstone
Assessment of site value
Access and safety
Aspect/Description
Road access and parking Car Parking some 250 m distance west of site
Safety of access Road traffic main hazard
Safety of exposure Low risk of tripping and falling over
Permission to visit Open access
Current condition good
Current conflicting activities none
Restricting conditions none
Nature of exposure Cultural built heritage
Culture, heritage & economic
Historic, archaeological & literary associations Roman Baths. Rating: 9.
Aesthetic landscape Urban environment. Rating: 2.
History of earth sciences None known. Rating: 0.
Economic geology None recorded. Rating: 0.
EDC 24: Geoscientific merit
Total Geoscientific merit score. Rating: 5.
Current site value
Community. Rating: 9.
Education. Rating: 5.
Fragility and potential use of the site
Fragility None
Potential use Higher/Further Education, School, On-site Interpretation, Multidisciplinary
Geodiversity value
This site clearly displays Bearsden's long-standing link between geology and the built environment. Romans appeared to have used the local sandstone for construction of the baths. The site additionally displays how the nature of the stone has determined how and where it is used; thicker-bedded stone, which produced blocks which were used for the construction of walls, whereas thinner-bedded stone was carefully extracted in sheets and used as slabs on the floor. Chisel marks still visible on original stones . Its geodiversity value is enhanced on account of its link with archaeology (Scheduled Ancient Monument) and accessible location.