▁N ith . ▁ ▁History ▁A ▁Roman ▁road ▁once ▁passed ▁through ▁the ▁site ▁of ▁the ▁village ▁as ▁a ▁direct ▁route ▁from ▁N ith sd ale ▁to ▁C ly des dale , ▁and ▁the ▁remains ▁of ▁a ▁small , ▁but ▁well ▁preserved ▁Roman ▁fort let ▁are ▁located ▁about ▁a ▁mile ▁up ▁the ▁Well ▁or ▁Wald ▁Path ▁to ▁the ▁north - east ; ▁the ▁def ensive ▁d itch ▁and ▁r amp art ▁are ▁clearly ▁visible . ▁ ▁Two ▁temporary ▁Roman ▁cam ps , ▁lying ▁to ▁the ▁right ▁of ▁the ▁l ane ▁running ▁up ▁to ▁the ▁village , ▁were ▁identified ▁on ▁R AF ▁aer ial ▁photograph s , ▁although ▁nothing ▁now ▁remains ▁visible ▁to ▁the ▁n aked ▁eye . ▁ ▁Having ▁travel led ▁along ▁the ▁' Well ▁or ▁Wald ▁Path ' ▁James ▁IV ▁stayed ▁at ▁Dur is de er ▁in ▁ 1 4 9 7 ▁whilst ▁on ▁a ▁pil gr image ▁to ▁St ▁Nin ian ' s ▁Church ▁at ▁Wh ith orn . ▁ ▁The ▁first ▁recorded ▁minister ▁at ▁Dur is de er ▁is ▁John ▁de ▁C ader ▁in ▁ 1 3 9 4 , ▁and ▁the ▁original ▁parish ▁church ▁was ▁probably ▁dedicated ▁to ▁St . ▁Mary . ▁There ▁was ▁a ▁bur ial ▁a is le ▁for ▁the ▁Men ze is ▁family , ▁with ▁their ▁names , ▁arms ▁and ▁mot to es . ▁In ▁ 1 6 0 7 ▁Sir ▁James ▁Douglas ▁of ▁Dr um lan rig ▁ex hum ed ▁the ▁body ▁of ▁William ▁M enz ies , ▁the ▁latest ▁bur ial , ▁and ▁re bur