Roman Borders · The Borderlands
History During Lockdown – Discovering Hidden Stories on the Doorstep
During lockdown, unexpected history reveals itself just beyond the doorstep — from ancient hillforts to traces of Roman Britain. Sometimes, the past is closer than we think.
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During lockdown, unexpected history reveals itself just beyond the doorstep — from ancient hillforts to traces of Roman Britain. Sometimes, the past is closer than we think. Load the film below, then press play to watch it here in the archive.
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Privacy & cookiesSome people may think walking about near their own home gets boring during lock-down.
But sometimes you just need to look a bit closer, peel back layers from the surface to reveal places covered by the sands of time…….
When lockdown first hit, many of us felt caged in—confined to the same few streets and paths, walking loops that soon felt repetitive. But what if the past was right under your feet all along? What if your local walk wasn’t boring… just misunderstood?
That’s exactly what I found out during those strange, silent lockdown days—there’s a lot of history hiding right outside your front door, if you just take the time to look.
Familiar Ground, Forgotten History
Like many people, I took to walking near my home during lockdown. At first, it was just a way to get fresh air. But the more I walked, the more I noticed things—shapes in the landscape, bumps in fields, stones that didn’t seem quite natural.
One day, I ended up near Horsehope by Stow in the Scottish Borders—a place I’d passed hundreds of times. You can see the hill from the main road. Most people probably just think of it as a nice bit of scenery.
But look a little closer…
An Ancient Fort on the Hill
Turns out, this wasn’t just a hill—it was once the site of an ancient hill fort, with ramparts still faintly visible. You might miss them if you’re not looking, but they’re definitely there. Worn down by time, hidden by nature, but undeniably real.
And that’s not all. The big field nearby? A Roman camp once stood there. There’s no flashy signage or interpretation boards, just traces in the land—but it was a strategic spot. The Romans were here, holding ground in what’s now a quiet Border town.
The Real “Hospital”
If that wasn’t enough, there’s a place locally known as “the hospital.” Not the kind you’re thinking of—this was an ancient hospitium, a kind of lodging and spiritual refuge for travellers and pilgrims dating back to the 1300s and 1400s.
There are actual historical records mentioning it. This wasn’t a myth—it was a real institution, tucked into the Borders landscape and mostly forgotten.
The Past Is Closer Than You Think
This is the lesson lockdown gave me: history isn’t something far away or confined to castles and museums. It’s in our fields, our forests, our hills. It’s in the bends of the river and the stones under our feet.
We walk by history every day and never realise it. Until we’re forced to slow down.
Go Walk, Go Look
So next time you’re out on a local walk—lockdown or not—don’t let the familiarity fool you. That hill might be a hill fort. That grassy field might hold Roman secrets. That strange ruin might once have housed monks, soldiers, or travellers from centuries ago.
Take a second look. Then peel back the layers. You never know what you’ll find.
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