Allandale Cottages
The Village On The Antonine Wall
A personal memoir by James Jamieson of the village built on top of the Antonine Wall near Falkirk in Scotland. Bordered by the Forth and Clyde Canal and the former London, Midland, Scottish Railway.
A Journey Through Time
"Allandale, the village built on top of the Antonine Wall, bordered in the north by the Forth and Clyde Canal and on the south by the former London, Midland, Scottish Railway looks as if it could stand for ever."
Viewing Allandale from the B816 which runs through the centre of the village, there doesn't seem to have been many changes made in the last 60 years. The two rows of red Dumfries sandstone houses look as they did circa 1940 when James Jamieson grew up there.
This narrative is not about the author but about the village and the folk who lived there, plus a record of the environment between 1934 and 1960. The village and the adjacent brickworks were all owned by the same company, John G. Stein & Co., so the recollections contain parts from both areas.
Although there are few reference books to verify all the facts and many contemporaries are no longer with us, this memoir relies on the memories of Allandale folk and their precious photographs to preserve this unique piece of Scottish history.
Latest Update
As of May 2026, we finished moving the book into this new website and have updated all the photographs with our own artificial intelligence to convert them into higher quality and into colour versions.
A Timeline of Allandale
Key moments that shaped the village from the founding of the brickworks to the end of the company-village era.
Explore the Book
Discover the rich history and personal stories that bring Allandale to life through these carefully crafted sections.
About the Author
James Jamieson
James Jamieson grew up in Allandale village from 1934 until 1960, witnessing firsthand the daily life and community spirit that defined this unique Scottish settlement built atop the ancient Antonine Wall.
His intimate knowledge of the village, its people, and the brickworks that sustained the community comes from lived experience during some of the most formative years of both his life and the village's modern history.
Through careful research and collaboration with fellow Allandale residents, James has crafted a loving tribute to a way of life that, while changed, remains an essential part of Scotland's industrial and social heritage.
"This narrative is not about me but about the village and the folk who lived there plus a record of the environment between those 26 years."
— James Jamieson