Scheduled Monument

Buittle CastleSM1115

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
21/07/1937
Last Date Amended
11/11/2003
Type
Secular: bailey; castle; motte
Local Authority
Dumfries And Galloway
Parish
Buittle
NGR
NX 81877 61674
Coordinates
281877, 561674

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of one of the most important landholding dynasties of Early Medieval Scotland, the Balliols, the secular administration of the Lords of Galloway and the position of the powerful Dervorguilla. The archaeological potential of the monument is important and should be preserved given the lack of surviving documentation to aid our understanding. A monument of this type is rare and vulnerable; the physical evidence is important to developing our understanding of atypical 'motte-and-bailey' castle sites.

References

Bibliography

The monument is recorded by the NMRS as Buittle Castle, NX86NW 6.00 and Buittle Place, NX86SW 10, its reports are attached.

The associated Historic Scotland Monument Warden's Report is attached.

IAM has corresponded with the owner-occupiers and has established accurate ownership details.

Aerial photographs used:

RCAHMS 'Buittle Place; Buittle Castle 8/9/6/62' KB/3021, 1983

Bibliography:

Coles, F R (1892), 'The motes, forts, and doons of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbrightshire', Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, Vol.26, 132-135.

Keppie, L J F (1997), 'Roman Britain in 1996. 1. Sites explored. 2. Scotland', Britannia, Vol. 28, 410.

Keppie, L J F (2001), 'Roman Britain in 2000. 1. Sites explored. 2. Scotland', Britannia, Vol. 32, 322.

Maxwell-Irving, A M T (1991), 'The Castles of Buittle', Transactions of the Dumfries & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, vol. 66, 59-66.

Oram, R D (1992), 'A note on the ownership of the barony of Buittle', Transactions of the Dumfries & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, vol. 67.

Oram, R D (1999), 'Dervorgilla, The Balliols and Buittle', Transactions of the Dumfries & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, vol. 73, 165-181.

Oram, R D (2000), The Lordship of Galloway, Edinburgh, 10, 146, 149, 157, 159, 207, 221, 223, 224, 242, 243, 245-246, 253-254 & 257.

Penman, A (1998), 'Botel Bailey', Current Archaeology, Nos. 12-13, 473-475.

Penman, A (1995), 'Botel Bailey Excavation: Interim Report 1992-1994', Castle Douglas.

Penman, A (1996), 'Botel Bailey Excavation: Interim Report 1995', Castle Douglas.

Penman, A (1997), 'Botel Bailey Excavation: Interim Report 1996', Castle Douglas.

Penman, A (1998), 'Botel Bailey Excavation: Interim Report 1997', Castle Douglas.

Penman, A (1999), 'Botel Bailey Excavation: Interim Report 1998', Castle Douglas.

Penman, A (2000), 'Botel Bailey Excavation: Interim Report 1999', Castle Douglas.

Penman, A (2001), 'Botel Bailey Excavation: Interim Report 2000', Castle Douglas.

Penman, A (2002), 'Botel Bailey Excavation: Interim Report 2001', Castle Douglas.

Penman, A (1993), 'Buittle Castle bailey (Buittle Parish): motte and bailey', Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 22.

Penman, A (1994), 'Buittle Castle bailey (Buittle Parish): motte and bailey', Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 14.

Penman, A (1995), 'Buittle Castle bailey (Buittle Parish): early medieval bailey adjacent to motte, now known to also be an earlier prehistoric site', Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 21.

Penman, A (1996), 'Buittle Castle bailey (Buittle Parish): early medieval bailey, multi-period site', Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 28-29.

Penman, A & Cochrane, E (1997), 'Botel Castle bailey/Buittle Castle bailey (Buittle Parish): prehistoric site and early medieval bailey', Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 24.

Penman, A & Cochrane, E (1998), 'Botel Castle bailey (Buittle Parish): early medieval bailey and multi-period site', Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 25.

Penman, A & Cochrane, E (1999), 'Botel bailey (Buittle Parish): multi-period settlement within castle bailey' and 'Botel bailey (Buittle Parish): early medieval bailey, prehistoric site', Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 19-23.

RCAHMS (1914), Fifth report and inventory of monuments and constructions in Galloway, Vol.2, County of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, Edinburgh, Nos.74-75, 53-56.

Tabraham, C J (1984), 'Norman Settlement in Galloway: recent fieldwork in the Stewartry', Breeze, D. J. ed., Studies in Scottish Antiquity presented to Stewart Cruden, Edinburgh, 87-124, No.10, 98-99, 117-123.

Truckell, A E & Williams, J (1967), 'Mediaeval pottery in Dumfriesshire and Galloway', Transactions of the Dumfries & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, vol. 44, 133 & 171.

Truckell, A E & Williams, J (1978), 'Further notes on Mediaeval pottery', Transactions of the Dumfries & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, vol. 53, 188 ...

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.

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Printed: 16/08/2025 02:24