374 BunJde Edge Forts. By Francis Lynn. 



Fort is an oval enclosure of the simplest form. I have 

 passed the enclosure to the west of Dog Bush, which also 

 is marked Fort on the Ordnance Survey. After examination, 

 I came to the conclusion that it is really of no great age 

 or significance. It has the look of a dyke and ditch, such 

 as is usually formed V)y Scotch foresters to bound a planta- 

 tion. I give one section to show its dimensions and form. 

 On the moor it forms an obtuse angle, similar to the one 

 formed by the larger work we have been considering, which 

 encloses Fort No. 3. This must have been done perhaps 

 by unconscious imitation. The enclosure has no appearance 

 of antiquity, and probably dates from last century. Some 

 member of the Club, who has access to the estate books, 

 may be able to show when it was made, and for what 

 purpose. 



These were all the Forts visited by the Club at this date ; 

 but as Wardlaw Fort was mentioned in the programme for 

 the day, I may say that it can be seen as a large oval 

 work, measuring 375 feet east to west, by 242 feet between 

 the inner mounds. A second mound runs all round at a 

 further distance of 33 to 35 feet ; but on the side of the 

 enclosure, towards the top of Wardlaw, a third mound runs 

 round about a third of its outline. On this side the ditches 

 also show much deeper than elsewhere. It is obvious that, 

 when this Fort was made, it was placed a little behind and 

 below the highest point of the hill, so as to escape the 

 observation of marauders landing on the shores to the east. 

 And to remedy the danger caused by being commanded by 

 this higher ground, the Fort was on this side strengthened 

 by an extra wall and ditch. 



In the course of observation, I have frequently noticed 

 proof that our forefathers did not readily think of flanking 

 movements, but usually put stronger and more numerous 

 barriers on the side which dii'ectly faced the country occu- 

 pied by the enemy, even when the ground on that side 

 might be the strongest naturally. 



The whole area of Wardlaw Fort has been under culti- 

 vation at some period, and is therefore much smoothed and 

 rounded off. Still there are within the walls several slight 

 mounds, probably marking the position of hut-circles. Across 

 the ridge of Wardlaw, at a distance of about a quarter of 



