NEWS: Echoes of war in a muddy field

MARK McLAUGHLIN
Edinburgh Evening News
11 March 2010

ARCHAEOLOGISTS monitoring the construction of the Lothians' new GBP 130 million water treatment plant have uncovered more than they bargained for.

The site has not only given up the remains of a Second World War camp but it may also hold evidence of an even older military camp held by Oliver Cromwell.

The Second World War camp was uncovered in a field on the route of Scottish Water's new Glencorse pipeline, off Frogston Road, and is thought to have been founded in the wake of the Allies' defeat at Dunkirk in 1940.

CFA Archaeology staff have also discovered musket balls that may be evidence of a camp set up by Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century, and hope to find artefacts dating back even further.

Project manager Bruce Glendinning said: "There are historical references to Roman artefacts being found on the site in 19th century but we are yet to find any of these ourselves.

"The area we're excavating stretches all the way from Penicuik to Glencorse so if it's there we'll find it.

"There are also some written reports of Oliver Cromwell staying with a local landowner nearby, and we have uncovered musket balls which could possibly date from that era."

The Second World War camp is believed to have been occupied by the 16th Durham Light Infantry. After the war it is believed to have been turned into a "displaced persons' camp".

Mr Glendinning added: "Where these people had been displaced from is uncertain, but it is likely to have been places like Poland.

"However, we believe the camp was shut fairly soon after the end of the war and there is pictorial evidence from 1947 showing that it had been completely levelled."

Mr Glendinning admitted that the information they had on the camp was sketchy, largely due to the secretive nature of wartime operations, and they have appealed to local residents and historians to fill in the blanks.

Their findings are to be displayed at an open event at the site on Saturday, from 11am-3pm.

This will allow historians and those keen on Second World War history to take a guided tour of the site and learn more about the recent history of the area.

Those participating in the event will have the chance to view the excavated remains of site huts, as well as artefacts found on-site, and learn more about the other discoveries made during the course of this project.