Camelon

   CAMELON, a village, in the parish of Falkirk, county of Stirling, 1½ mile (W.) from Falkirk; containing 1340 inhabitants. This village, which is situated on the turnpike-road to Glasgow, is sometimes called New Camelon, in contradistinction to the ancient city of that name, supposed to have been a Roman station, and, at one time, a very considerable sea-port town. The probability of this supposition is corroborated by numerous vestiges of Roman antiquity, that may still be traced on the line of the Roman road leading from the Wall of Antonine; and by the discovery of foundations of buildings, and the traces of various streets, which, not many years since, were distinctly apparent. There is also sufficient evidence, that the river Carron was formerly navigable for vessels, far above the site of the ancient city, where, in 1707, several antique boats, and the fragment of an anchor, were found imbedded in the soil; and the name of the adjacent district called the Carse, implying lands reclaimed from the sea, and their slight elevation above the level of the Frith of Forth, by which, within the last fifty years, they have been inundated, afford strong confirmation of the truth of that opinion. The inhabitants are partly employed in the Carron iron-works, and in the manufacture of nails, which was originally introduced here by Mr. Cadell, of Carron Park, and for which there are now two establishments, affording occupation to 250 persons; two distilleries are also carried on, upon a moderate scale. A handsome church has been built by subscription near the western extremity of the village, on ground given by Mr. Forbes, of Callander, who also contributed largely towards the expense of its erection; it was opened on the 23rd of August, 1840, and contains 660 sittings. A school, for which an appropriate building has been erected, is also supported, by subscription.