Monument record MHG3402 - Defensive Earthern Banks, Castle Hill

Summary

No summary available.

Location

Grid reference Centred NH 5092 4360 (106m by 100m) (Buffered by site type)
Map sheet NH54SW
Old County INVERNESS-SHIRE
Civil Parish KILTARLITY AND CONVINTH
Geographical Area INVERNESS

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Earthwork (NR)
OS 25"map, (1968)

A mediaeval defensive earthwork occupying the SE extremity of Castle Hill, a steep sided glacial ridge and overlooking the River Beauly.
It consists of two earthen banks with medial ditch which cross the ridge isolating an area measuring c.40.0.m NE- SW, by transversely c.13.0m in the NE and c.7.0m in the SW. The inner bank measures c.3.0m wide and c.0.5m high in the SW widening to c.7.5m wide and c.1.2m high in the NE. The ditch is c.3.5m wide and c.0.7m deep in the SW increasing to c.5.0m wide and c.1.2m deep in the NE. The outer bank c.2.0m wide and c 0.2m high in the SW is barely discernible in the NE.The inner bank turns and follows the lip of the natural slope in the NE, where it is c.3.5m wide and c.0.4m high. There is no trace of artificial defences on the SE and SW sides, and the interior is featureless. The banks and ditch terminate before reaching the natural slopes in the SW leaving a gap c.2.5m wide which is probably the entrance.
Traditionally the earthwork was dug by the Duke of Cumberland after Culloden to protect his guns when bombarding Beaufort Castle (NH54SW 4) but is also alleged to protect a ford at the foot of the ridge (Name Book 1872). The latter supposition is probably correct. The layout of the earthwork is not conducive to a bombardment of the castle, as it faces the wrong way.
Visited by OS (N K B) 11 January 1968

Sources/Archives (9)

  • --- Text/Publication/Article: Yeoman, P A. 1988. 'Mottes in Northeast Scotland', Scot Archaeol Rev Vol. 5 1988, p.125-33. Scot Archaeol Rev. 125-33. 131, no. 89.
  • --- Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1979. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The archaeological sites and monuments of North-east Inverness, Inverness District, Highland Region. . 27, no. 204.
  • --- Text/Publication/Volume: Name Book (County). Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey. Book No. 49, 8.
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Henge, 'castle hill', Muir of Ord, damaged. Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Henge, 'Castle Hill', Muir of Ord. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Henge, 'Castle Hill', Muir of Ord. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Henge, 'Castle Hill', Muir of Ord. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Henge, 'Castle Hill', Muir of Ord. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .
  • --- Image/Photograph(s): Henge,'Castle Hill', Muir of Ord. Colour Slide; Digital Image. .

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

May 17 2016 12:19PM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any questions or more information about this record? Please feel free to comment below with your name and email address. All comments are submitted to the Heritage Portal maintainers for moderation, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible. Comments, questions and answers that may be helpful to other users will be retained and displayed along with the name you supply. The email address you supply will never be displayed or shared.