Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

• Type

  Legal Documents

  Title

  SM90099_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014633)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of Druchtag Mote Hill, a medieval earthwork castle, surviving as a well-preserved earthwork, in the care of Historic Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Ministers. It is located by the side of the unclassified road from Mochrum to Barrachan in the South Machars of Galloway. The reason for this rescheduling is that no adequate documentation can be traced from the time of the original scheduling in 1921.

Druchtag is one of a fairly large number of earthwork castles erected by vassals of the Lords of Galloway sometime in the 12th or early 13th century. Druchtag is a well-preserved motte, of classic truncated cone form, built on the top of a shallow ridge. The mound, which has a 22m diameter flat top, stands 6.5m high and is surrounded by a partially silted ditch 10m wide and now of 2m maximum depth. A modern field wall and hedge now follows the top edge of the ditch for most of its perimeter. On the west side the ground falls steeply away, and the ditch here is now only represented by a 3m wide terrace. The level top has a stony content and although there are a number of minor depressions, suggestive of antiquarian excavation, no traces of any structures are evident. There are no upstanding remains of an approach, or of a bailey. The monument has no documented history. It came into state care in 1931.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described, together with an area within which associated remains are likely to survive. The subcircular area proposed for scheduling is larger than that of the property in the care of Historic Scotland, and measures a maximum of 78m E-W by 80m N-S, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the well-preserved remains of a medieval earthwork castle. It has the potential to inform an understanding of the introduction of castellated architecture to Galloway during the period of the Europeanisation of lordly land holding systems. Moreover it has the potential to provide important information about defensive and domestic architecture, within the context of its function as a centre of lordly power and local administration. The national importance of the monument is further underlined by its status as a property in the care of Historic Scotland.

References

Bibliography

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.