Archaeology Notes

Event ID 664276

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/664276

NH79SE 3 7712 9258.

(NH 7712 9258) Proncy Castle (NR) (remains of)

OS 6" map, (1960)

The remains of a small stone tower erected on a motte. The motte, scarped from a natural mound varies from 12' to 15' above the ridge to the south from which it has been isolated by a ditch of which distinct traces remain. The surface area of the mound is about 100' in diameter. Round the edge remains of a stone wall crop out at intervals, with traces of buildings on its inner side, and within this is a raised area about 20' broad extending all round the enceinte with occasional traces of walling on the inner side. The entrance to the motte seems to be indicated by a gap about 18' wide in the rampart of the south side with a sunk path leading diagonally up the mound.

The foundations of the tower, rectangular and shell-mortared lie in the centre of the motte and measure about 20' NE-SW by 12', and possibly 5' thick.

Several detached portions of massive, grouted masonry lie to the south of the tower. The foundations are now turf-covered.

Proncy Castle formed part of the lands granted by Hugo Freskyn to Gilbert de Moravia c 1211.

RCAHMS 1911, visited 1909; C D Bentinck 1926.

Proncy Castle, the turf-covered foundations of a tower surmounting an earlier motte, as described by Simpson.

The summit of the motte is level and near circular measuring c. 34.0m in diameter.

The stone wall around it does not appear to conform to the rim, but insufficient is visible to determine its plan. In the SE sector at the base of the mound are traces of an angular corner, and there are indications that the wall continued W from it on a near straight alignment up the slope to join an exposed section c.5.0m long and c.0.4m high immediately to the E of the alleged entrance. This section is dry built of carefully laid small flat slabs, and may be part of a barmkin contemporary with the tower. Quarrying has destroyed any details of the entrance. It is uncertain what the raised area around the enceinte represents. It varies in width from about 5.0m to about 7.5m, and it is possible that it is merely a result of the quarrying which has mutilated the area around the tower. The walling noted by Simpson (Bentinck 1926) on its inner side and the traces of buildings noted by RCAHMS are not now evident. The ditch on the S is now scarcely visible and it cannot be ascertained if it ever surrounded the motte which is protected in the E and W by dry valleys.

Resurved at 1/2500.

Visited by OS (A A) 24 March 1971.