Archaeology Notes

Event ID 701935

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/701935

NS53NW 10 5170 3777.

(NS 5170 3777) Old Loudoun Castle (NR) (site of)

OS 6" map (1968)

A fragment of the original castle of the Loudoun family, and part of the moat are still to be seen a short distance SE of Hindberrybank. It is said that it was destroyed by the Kennedies about 1485; its stones were used to build the present Loudoun Castle (NS53NW 8).

A Millar 1885; Name Book 1856; OSA 1792

The tower has been situated on a large mound, only a fragment of which remains, most of it having been eroded away. A piece of masonry, 4.0m long and 1.0m high, remains embedded at the NE end of the mound. A broad, deep ditch curves round the mound on the S and ends abruptly at the edge of the steep slope to the N.

Visited by OS (JLD) 21 August 1956

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 7 February 1962

Although the summit area has been reduced by severe and continuous erosion, this remains a fine example of a scarp-edge motte. No 'in situ' foundations of the castle are evident; that described by the OS field surveyors is a tumbled block. The mound is up to 4.5m above the level of the ditch, which averages about 10m wide and up to 2.6m deep externally. Visited by OS (JRL) 16 July 1982

Charter evidence indicated that a Fleming - James, son of Lambin Asa - held a castle at Loudoun prior to 1214.

G W S Barrow 1980

The motte is now seen in the crescentic remnants of a natural hill, falling steeply to the W, but what remains suggest the top could have had a diameter of over 30m. A crescentic ditch some 3m deep surrounds the hill. Fragmentary remains of a stone structure are seen around the rim.

Across the burn from the Old Castle is a substantial limekiln (NS53NW 68) with two large draw holes and formerly a date stone showing 1771 was to be seen high on its structure. 18th and early 19th-century quarrying of the motte almost certainly accounts for its present shape on the NW side. Scooped slopes, now overgrown, typical of quarrying are also seen along the steep bank of the river.

To the E of the bailey a large ditch runs N to S while on the S side the site is enclosed by a bank.

The Old Castle was abandoned by the 16th century. The whole area of the site appears to have had continuing use in an agricultural and industrial context.

A Johnstone, J Mair and G Hearns 1994.