stirling-1963-vol-1/05_077

Transcription

INTRODUCTION : THE MIDDLE AGES AND LATER
or wholly artificial and surrounded by a ditch, have been recorded at Slamannan (No. 179),
Colzium (No. 181), Garmore (No. 183) and Fintry (No. 185), while another example, Catter
Law, lies just outside the western boundary of the county (NS 472871). Ditched rectangular
works which probably fulfilled the same purpose occur at Bonnybridge (No. 180) and Sir
John de Graham's Castle (No. 186), while another structure of the same type formerly existed
at Watling Lodge (No. 188). The third type, which can be described as the promontory motte,
was formed by cutting a ditch to isolate the head of a promontory or ridge from the neighbour-
ing ground. Three examples of this type of structure are recorded, and excavations carried out
at one of them, The Keir Knowe of Drum (No. 187), revealed the remains of a stockade round
the perimeter of the mound and nine post-holes, which probably supported the foundations of
a wooden tower, near the centre.
The round or oval mottes are certainly examples of a class of earthwork which has been
dated elsewhere in Scotland to the 12th and 13th centuries, ¹ and sherds of pottery of this period
were found at Slamannan motte. ² That the rectangular mottes were probably contemporary
with them is shown by the discovery of pottery of the same period at Bonnybridge. No evidence
exists for dating the promontory mottes, but the tower revealed at Keir Know of Drum
bore a close resemblance on plan to that which crowned the round motte at Abinger, ³ and,
like it, was probably built during the 12th century.
On the north side of the Forth valley there are several other promontory works which may
be mottes ⁴ and which, like many of the Stirlingshire examples, bear the name "Keir". This
word represents an anglicised form of the British word "caer", a castle. ⁵

HOMESTEAD MOATS
The Peel of Gartfarren (No. 189) is the best-preserved example of a homestead moat remaining
in Stirlingshire, but another, similar in size and equally well preserved, lies just outside the
county at Ballangrew (NS 617988). Two other works, now obliterated but probably belonging
to the same class, are recorded at Garchell (No. 190) and Gargunnock (No. 191). The majority
of such works were made between the 13th and 15th centuries, and a piece of pottery found in a
molehill at Gartfarren has been identified as part of the rim of a jug dating from the turn of
the 13th and 14th centuries. ⁶ Ditches without ramparts forming rectangular enclosures occur
at Castle Rankine ⁷ (No. 217), and also at Manor ⁸ (No. 194); but in spite of a superficial
resemblance on plan these are not homestead moats.

CASTLES AND TOWER-HOUSES
Stirling Castle (No. 192), as an important Royal stronghold from the 12th century onwards
and a frequent residence of the Scottish court in late mediaeval times, stands apart from the

1 Cf. Inventory of Roxburghshire, No. 233.
2 Information from Miss D. M. Hunter.
3 Arch. J., cvii (1950), 15 ff.
4 E.g. O.S. 6-inch sheet, Perthshire cxxxi N.W.; Littlemill
Burn, Mid Borland, Easter Tarr.
5 Place Names, 370 f.
6 The Commissioners are indebted to Mr. E. M. Jope,
F.S.A., for a report on this sherd.
7 P.F.A.N.H.S., iv (1946-9), 47.
8 Geogr. Collections, i, 136; N.S.A., viii (Stirlingshire), 222.

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