Musket balls have been discovered

Musket balls have been discovered by archaeologists at Fairmilehead, Edinburgh which may prove that a Roundhead camp had been set up in a field close to Frogston Road during the 17th century.

The Roundheads laid siege to Edinburgh Castle in September 1650. Batteries were set up at Heriot’s Hospital, the north bank of the Nor’ Loch and on Castle Hill. In an effort to gain entrance to the fortress, coal miners were conscripted to tunnel through the rock supporting the Half Moon Battery.

When the mining operations proved unsuccessful, heavy mortars were brought up from Hull and London. Although the fortress was heavily bombarded, the garrison’s seventy guns including Mons Meg were not used effectively as the Governor of the Castle refused to allow Master Gunner Binning to fire back unless directly ordered.

In December as the clock on St. Giles struck twelve, the garrison marched out from the fortress, drums beating and colours flying, allowing General Cromwell’s troops to occupy Edinburgh Castle.

The illustration by a Dutch artist shows Edinburgh Castle in 1646.