Round Hill, Kendal

Round Hill

Kendal

Cumbria

Now this site has been causing some confusion for a number of years now. The Pastscape website sites the 'motte' somewhere between the huge round hill at Birds Park Farm, and the small Woodland Trust managed 'motte' a few hundred yards to the West. Their map is confusing to say the least....check their entry for this site. I've always gone for the more visible of the three options for this alleged motte....and that was originally the huge round hill just to the South of Birds Park Farm on the North Eastern edges of Kendal. However....about a year ago, I found the feature in the field to the North of the Castle Green Hotel.....and was surprised to find so much masonry buried beneath the trees at the summit of the 'motte'. I've come to the conclusion however, that the 'motte' at the Castle Green is nothing more than a Victorian garden feature, most likely built by the Bindloss family when they lived at the Castle Green. The 'motte' at Birds Park Farm is harder to explain...perhaps it is nothing more than a drumlin...though it is very pronounced and doesn't have the normal tear drop shape that a drumlin has.

Above. Aerial view showing the close proximity of the three sites that could represent Round Hill.

The map, above, shows how close these three sites are, and how badly described the site is by both Pastscape and the Archaeology Data Service website. This is the text of the Pastscape website, describing the site "SD 532929 Motte shown on OS 1:25000 First Series as a circular feature with trees on top, now on the perimeter of Castle Park. The area is now administered by the Woodland Trust. (1) Probably a drumlin or a leftover from the railway which is adjacent to it. (2)"

On the map - Top right - Birds Park Farm 'motte'. Top left - Round Hill Wood 'motte'. Bottom - Castle Green 'motte'.

The fact that the area is administered by the Woodland Trust (which was added recently) now points to a new site that I didn't know existed. Just off Sedbergh Drive, at the Northern extremity of Kendal, there is a tiny wooded area, bounded on all sides by housing developments.

Above. The entrance to the wood is through the small gap in the concrete wall to the left of the lamp post.

Above. The summit of the 'motte'

Above. The summit of the 'motte'

Above. The Round Hill of Birds Park Farm. Drumlin or spoil heap?

Above. The Round Hill of Castle Green Hotel. Most likely a Victorian garden feature.

The Woodland Trust's website and details on Round Hill Wood.

Cunswick Hall, Kendal

Cunswick Hall

Nr Kendal

Cumbria

Although Cunswick Hall, along with the fortified tower that was here up until around 1582, was demolished, portions of the gatehouse still survive, together with the Royal arms above the archway. Follow this link for more information on the hall.

Above. The gatehouse and porter's lodge from outside.

The 16th century gatehouse stands together with the porter's lodge, but looks to have been altered. There are the faint remains of a higher archway above the present arch, into which the armorial plate has been inserted.

Above. Close up of the armorial plate above the archway.

The arms are those of the Tudor kings, and look to have been inserted into an old window (the lintel and sill can still be seen) It's impossible to determine the form that the original gatehouse would have taken, but it was probably the only way into the walled courtyard that surrounded the hall and the tower....probably on a par with the towers at Burneside and Preston Patrick.

Martello Towers, Jersey

Martello Towers

Jersey

Another small collection of photos of towers on the island of Jersey has found its way to me....this time courtesy of Simon Park. All of Jersey's towers were built between 1779 and 1837, to provide protection against a feared French invasion. As it was, none of them saw action.

Above. La Rocco Tower.

La Rocco Tower lies off the West coast of Jersey, at the Southern end of St Ouen's Bay. It was the twenty third tower to be built and was the last to be based on the Jersey round tower design. La Rocco was built in 1796 and by all accounts appears to have been a very expensive affair. Funds ran out soon after building was started and the army had to request further funds to finish it. The tower was finally completed between 1798 and 1801. The gun platform at the top of the tower would have been able to house five thirty two pounder guns and would have provided a formidable line of defence had the French decided to attack the coast here. The Germans badly damaged the tower during the Second World War, when it was used for target practice by German artillery from the Jersey main land. La Rocco was finally restored in 1969 following a public appeal for funds.

Above. An as yet unidentified tower. Details to follow!

Above. First Tower.

This tower's name is a bit of misnomer in that it wasn't the first tower to be built on Jersey. It was originally known as St Aubin No 1 but soon became known as First Tower....a name it now shares with the surrounding area. The tower can be found a few miles North West of St Helier. First Tower was built around 1787 and was one of three towers built to provide protection around St Aubin's bay. After the threat of French invasion had gone, it was abandoned before finding various peace-time uses. It was used as a base for a windmill, a water tower for storing water for plants along Victoria Avenue and, more recently, a vent for a sewer pumping station. When it was in active military use, First Tower was manned by about ten men from the Royal Invalid Battalion.

Check this link out for more information about Jersey's towers.

My thanks to Simon Park for providing the photos.

Kendal Race Course, Kendal

Kendal Race Course

Kendal

Cumbria

The remains of Kendal Race Course are to be found to the West of Kendal, at the foot of Scout Scar. There is public access across the middle of the race course, via a public footpath that takes you from Brigsteer Road, across Bradley Field and then to the ridge of Scout Scar. The race course is very easy to see in various places, with the route of the course laid out on top of a raised earth platform that has survived in places. There are also the remains of stone walling, most likely built into the banks on the West side of the race course, to shore up places where race goers could stand and watch the day's events.

Above. View of the entrance to the Race Course at the North East corner.

The one mile race course was created by subscription, with money being raised by wealthy locals. An area to the West of Kendal called Fisher's Plain was selected, as it was in easy reach of the town and provided a good flat plateau on which to create the race course. Before the course was created, Fisher's Plain was popular with locals for taking walks, as it provided great views of Kendal and the Howgill fells beyond.

Above. The North East turn.

The first race meeting was held on the 7th of August 1821, and thereafter meetings were held yearly in the last week of June. The three day meet was held each year until about 1830. The main race held here, was the Kendal Gold Cup, with a first prize of £50....a considerable sum for the day.

Above. The North East turn from the East.

There was no meeting in 1823 because of the Reform Bill crisis, but it was used as the start of the Kendal Steeple Chase. Steeple Chases continued until around 1850, while the yearly races had already ceased to take place in about 1839. At this point, materials from the grand stand were removed and sold off.

Above. Another view of the North East turn.

The race course was used by the Kendal\Westmorland Yeomanry for practice from 1847 for a few years.

Above. The one remaining finish post?

From around 1891, Kendal Race Course Golf Club was established, with a six hole course established over the now disused race course. The golf club moved from here in 1896, to establish a more permanent course elsewhere.

Above. Remains of stonework used to shore up the bank where spectators would have watched the races from.

A few races were held during World War I, but on the whole the course now lay abandoned. Maps dating 1863, 1898 and 1899 still show the race course. Later maps, dated 1914, 1920 and 1938 do not show it at all. The current Ordnance Survey map shows it as a dotted outline in the field.

Above. Looking North on the start finish straight.

The following photo shows what I think may be the remains of one of the race course buildings...however, Tom Clare, in his book Prehistoric Monuments of the Lake District, thinks this may in fact be the site of a prehistoric round cairn. I can't find this particular feature marked on any old maps as a cairn, and therefore feel it is some remnant of the race course.

Above. Rubble remains of a building in the centre of the race course?

Race meets were held here in 1922\23 for trotting races, and the site was briefly revived during the early 1990s, but no further races have been held since then.

Rispain Camp, Whithorn

Rispain Camp

Near Whithorn

Dumfries and Galloway

During the 1950s, as Rispain camp was being investigated, it was mistakenly categorised as a medieval moated homestead or even a castle site. It wasn't until 1978 when the interior of the site was excavated, that it was designated an Iron Age fortified homestead.

Above. Looking North West along the top of the earth banks.

The impressive earthworks consist of a rectangular array of ditches, earthen banks with an interior area of around 220 by 170 feet. The surrounding ditch is around 10 feet deep and is still remarkably well defined (though it has most likely been consolidated at some point)

Above. Looking South East towards the modern day farm.

The excavations of 1978, provided evidence of habitation from around 100 BC to 200 AD. The homestead's defences are incredibly well preserved. An outer ditch, now infilled, can be traced from aerial photos, but the exterior bank and its ditch still stand to an impressive height and depth. 

Above. Looking South West from inside the earthworks.

The 1978 excavations threw up evidence of a timber gateway on the North East side of the earthworks, with evidence of a wooden palisade running along the top of the exterior earthen bank. This was obviously a very well defended homestead.

Above. Standing on the causeway at the North Eastern end.

There is also evidence of a large wooden round house in the center of the site, measuring some
13 metres in diameter.

The site is freely accessible during day light hours, and there is a small area for parking

in the farm yard around a quater of a mile from the site.

Carse Mote, Tongland, Near Kirkcudbright

Carse Mote

Tongland

Near Kirkcudbright

Dumfries and Galloway

Carse Mote can be seen from the A711 at Tongland, about two miles North of Kirkcudbright. You can't really see these earthworks from the car as your driving, so it's best to park up and take a look. The best distance view, that gives you a good idea of the size and form of the site, is to walk back towards the power station on the banks of the River Dee. Through the trees, the view (shown below) can be seen.

Above. The earthworks from the A711 through the trees.

The summit of the mote is tree lined these days, but when it was in use, the hill side would most likely have been cleared of any vegetation, giving its occupants good clear fields of view across the countryside. The next best views are close up, and the mote can easily be accessed from the public footpath that runs along the South East banks of the river. Although the footpath isn't marked on the ordnance survey map, it is clearly sign posted. You can walk right up to the base of the earthworks, and as Scottish access laws are vastly different from English access laws, you can climb to the top of the mote and walk around the outlaying earthworks.

Above. Looking North East towards the summit of the mote.

On some old maps, the site is called 'the camp on the moat field', and although these days it looks distinctly round, it would most likely have originally been an almost square site. Ploughing and erosion have, over the years, rounded the edges of the summit of the mote.

Above. The tree lined summit of Carse Mote.

The summit may at one time have been around twenty one feet high, but only on one side does it now stand to anything nearing this height. The earthworks seem to be laid out in a classical Norman motte and bailey style settings....with a higher motte at one end, and a lower bailey area at the other...however, it is thought that this site pre-dates the Norman invasion of the British Isles.

Above. Another view of the tree lined summit.

The summit of the mote measures around 165 by 140 feet, with a break in the rim on the east side, possibly representing an entrance. The remnants of a bank and ditch survive to the North East of the mote, as shown in the photo below.

Above. The scant remains of ditches and banks at the North Eastern side of the earthworks.

I can't seem to find any dates for Carse Mote's creation, though some documentation points to it being an iron age hill fort rather than any sort of medieval site. This doesn't of course preclude it being used at some later point.

Above. Sketches and plans of Carse Mote\Motte from The Motes, Forts and Doons of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, by Frederick R. Coles

As this is easily reached via the public footpath from the road side, this site is well worth a visit.

Motte of Urr, Near Dalbeattie and Haugh of Urr

Motte of Urr

Between Dalbeattie and Haugh of Urr

Dumfries and Galloway

Well...what is there to be said about this? It is truly the 'mother of all mottes' and stunned me so much I nearly put the car into the ditch when I saw it from a distance. This magnificent earthwork structure can be found just over a mile South of Hough of Urr, a small village that is in turn about three and a half miles North of Dalbeattie, and about four and a half miles North East of Castle Douglas. The Motte of Urr lays on the West side of the B794 and next to Urr Water. Although it's on private land, great views can still be had from the road side, and these views really convey the size and form of this fantastic earthwork.

Above. The spectacular motte looking South.

The Motte of Urr is apparently a good example of a Scottish 'Pudding Bowl' motte, and the description seems to be apt when looking at the photo above. The motte rises to around ten metres above the bailey area, which in turn is set upon a six or seven metre high bank, which is also set upon yet another six or seven metre high bank. The motte therefore towers above the earthworks.

Above. Another wider view of the motte looking South.

The motte sits at the Northern end of the huge bailey area (measuring some 150 by 65 metres) and is surrounded by a deep ditch. The motte has a summit measuring some twenty five metres across, and would most likely have housed a large wooden tower.

Above. The motte from the East.
 

The castle was built by Walter de Berkeley some time after 1165, as detailed in a rare, surviving charter, which details the grant of lands in the surrounding areas by William I (the Lion of Scotland)

Above. Looking North towards the motte.

Excavations in the early 1950s, found evidence of destruction and fire damage, possibly relating to a rebellion in 1174. At this point, its defences would have consisted of a wooden tower atop the motte, with a timber palisade around the exterior of the bailey area, probably reinforced with stone. There was a Burgh of Urr somewhere close by, but it does not appear to have been occupied much after the early 1300s. A minor branch of the Baliol family held the castle in the 1200s, and while it was the site of a charter signing in 1262, no attempt seems to have been made to rebuild the castle in stone. There are suggestions that the sheer size of the castle's bailey area, indicate that it may have originally been an iron age fort.

Check out the site record for the Motte of Urr at the RCAHMS website, which has a library of over 120 photos of the motte.

Above. Various sketches and plans of the Motte of Urr.

Above. Fantastic undated map of the Motte of Urr and attendant 'camp' to the West.

 

Excellent information and collection of images at the CANMORE website.

 

Link to report from 1951 and 1953 excavations at Motte of Urr.

 

 

 

Boreland of Anworth Motte, Gatehouse of Fleet

Boreland Of Anwoth motte

Green Tower Motte

Gatehouse Of Fleet

Dumfries and Galloway

A confusing motte and bailey castle this one....mainly because it seems to be unable to decide what its name is. Some documentation refers to it as Green Tower Motte, some as Anwoth Motte, and some as Boreland of Anwoth Motte. Whatever it's name, it is a large earthwork, visible at a distance from the road side. The A75 between Newton Stewart and Kirkcudbrigh has to be one of the most scenic drives in South West Scotland, passing by numerous historical sites, and providing some beautiful views across the Irish Sea. These earthwork remains can be found less than a mile South of Gatehouse of Fleet and Cardoness Castle, and nearly seventeen miles East of Newton Stewart.

Above. The motte looking South West from the A75.

The motte consists of two distinct parts: a small twenty two by twenty metre almost circular earthwork mound, with a fifteen metre wide ditch separating it from a larger fifty two metre by twenty metre motte protruding out into the high tide areas of Skyreburn Bay. Unlike the numerous small single mound mottes in this part of Scotland, Anwoth was built with a large well defended bailey area. R.M.Smith, in his The Castles of Galloway, states that this is similar in form to motte and bailey castles found in Ulster, and therefore an anomaly to the area. It is dated to around 1160, and would most likely have belonged to David Fitz Teri, who may have received surrounding areas of land from Uchtred Mac Fergusa, Lord of Galloway. The remains of a deep ditch can still be traced on the Landward\North side of the earthworks.

The motte can be seen from the roadside quite easily. If you park up at Cardoness Castle and then walk back down to the A75, cross over, and look South East, you should be able to see it.

Check the link for the motte's connections with the McCulloh clan.

Old Buittle Tower, Near Dalbeattie

Old Buittle Tower

Near Dalbeattie

Dumfries and Galloway

This beautiful late sixteenth century tower can just be seen from the B794 as you travel South towards Dalbeattie from Haugh of Urr. Indeed, it is only about two miles South of the Motte of Urr....two good reasons to explore this road. These days, the tower is owned by Janet and Jeffrey Burn, who have not only made this tower into a comfortable home, but turned it into a living history site with events throughout the year. Check their website, The Borderers.

Above. Old Buittle Tower looking West from the B794.

It seems that the original tower house was built between 1490 and 1500, probably utilising rubble from the nearby ruined Buittle castle, by the Black Douglases who were, at the time, Lords of Galloway.

The tower would originally have been a simple rectangular building, with a wing added around 1580 providing extra, larger living quarters, reshaping the building into an L plan tower. In the early 17th century, the courtyard would have had a barmkin built around it, providing some light defensive protection. It was abandoned in the early 1720s, and gutted by fire in 1740. By the late 1700s, it was in a state of near total collapse. In the early 1800s its potential as a home was recognised, and by 1881 it had been let to tenant farmers. However, the owners decided to remove the turrets and remodel the interior. Check their website for visiting information.

Isle of Whithorn Castle, Isle of Whithorn

Isle of Whithorn Castle

Isle of Whithorn

Dumfries and Galloway

The Isle of Whithorn (not an island today) lays at the Southern tip of the Machars, about 13 miles South of Wigtown. This has to be the smallest Scottish castle I've ever seen, measuring a petite ten by nine metres. Built in 1674 by Patrick Houston and Margaret Gordon (who's initials can still be seen over a door) it is most likely that it was built, not as a place of refuge, but more likely as a comfortable home with all the outward characters of a small tower house.

Above. Isle of Whithorn Castle.

The tower was altered around 1830 by John Reid, when he was the Superintendent of Customs, and it was used as his administrative centre in the government's battle against smuggling. It can be seen from the road side when travelling out of The Isle of Whithorn on the B7004. Film enthusiasts may recognise the tower from the 1973 film, The Wicker Man.

Auchenmalg Tower\House, Achenmalg

Auchenmalg Tower\House

Auchenmalg

Near Glenluce

Dumfries and Galloway

The tiny hamlet of Auchenmalg lies about four miles South of Glenluce in the South West corner of Scotland. All that remains of this tower or house, are the footings of around two thirds of the square building, with the standing remains of one ruined gable wall. The ruins can be seen from the road side, about a hundred yards South of Broompark Farm.

Above. View of the remains from the A747.

Above. OS map from 1895, showing the site of the tower or house of Auchenmalg.

Modern OS maps after 1895 do not name the ruins, and stop showing them after 1965. The only information I can find about this intriguing ruin, is that it was most likely once upon a time, the home to the Adairs of Genoch. Some sources are convinced that this was the site of a fortified house or tower, whilst others dismiss it as the ruins of a more recent house.

Tretower Castle, Nr Crickhowell, Wales

Tretower Castle

Nr Crickhowell

Powys

Mid Wales

Tretower Castle lays in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales, some three miles North West of Crickhowell and just off the A479. The remains (shown below) date mainly from the mid 12th to early 13th century, and overlay an earlier motte and bailey castle.

Above. View of the South Western side of the castle.

Photo courtesy of Sheila Meades

More photos of Tretower Castle on the fantastic Castle Wales web site.

Drummore Castle, Kirkcudbright

Drummore Castle (fort)

Near Kirkcudbright

Dumfries and Galloway

Scotland

Not a castle as such I know, but worthy of its place on this blog none the less. This is a an ancient hill fort, visible from the minor road that leads from the Lake (South of Kirkcudbright) in a three mile loop back to the Townhead Road. The hills within this looping road are littered with other minor forts, the remains of small stone circles and stones with cup and ring carvings.

Above. The wooded area to the left of the photo shows where the fort is located.

The fort measures around two hundred and ten by one hundred and sixty feet, and sits on the summit of Castle Hill (aptly enough!) Apparently, visible beneath the overgrown summit of this small hill, there is a stone rampart running almost the full circumference of the hill, with an opening on the North East side. Below this top rampart, there is a ditch and another stony rampart, possibly added at a later date, further strengthening the position this fort holds.

Above. Plan of Drummore Fort from The Motes, Forts and Doons of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, by Frederick R. Coles

In his report of 1891, Frederick Coles stated that the ramparts were still imposing and strong, suggesting to him that the fort was constructed with one thing in mind....defence. He also stated that two wells were still visible in amongst the thick vegetation at the summit of the hill, indicating that the fort was meant to be inhabited. The fort occupies an area of 430 by 250 feet, with a central, rough area measuring 207 by 174 feet from rampart to rampart. The ditches, were, at Coles' time, from 6 to 18 feet wide, and around 8 feet deep. 

Murray's Monument, Minnigaff, Dumfries and Galloway

Murray's Monument

Minnigaff

Dumfries and Galloway

Scotland

I thought I'd include this monument here seeing as it's so similar to Kendal's Elba and Castle Howe monuments. It's off the beaten track...on a road called the Queen's Way, the A712, that runs from New Galloway at the Northern tip of Loch Ken, South to Newton Stewart, and sandwiched between Wee Doon and Big Doon! The road is such that, if you're driving you'll probably miss it...but if you're lucky enough to be a passenger, the monument can be seen looming ahead of you as you pass by the Wild Goat Park.

Above. The monument from the East.

The monument was erected in 1835 in memory of Alexander Murray (1775 to 1813), a Scottish linguist and professor of oriental languages. Alexander was born very near to the site of the monument, in a cottage called Dunkitterick Cottage, now set up as a memorial to him.

The monument was built by William Hume, James Thomson, and Robert Hume to designs by an eminent Edinburgh lawyer called John Parker. It stands to around eighty feet tall, and its prominent position high up on the hill side gives you great views back down the valley to the East.

Above. A closer, cropped view of the monument.

This has to be one of my favourite drives.....which will have to be done in drier and sunnier weather. There is so much to see along the way, including the Glen of the Bar, the Wild Goat Park, Kenmure Castle, Clatteringshaw's Loch and Bruce's Stone, the Deer Range and miles and miles of rolling hills.