Archaeology Notes

Event ID 712911

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/712911

NT26SE 20 2779 6308.

(NT 2779 6308) General Monck's Battery (NAT)

OS 25" map (1971)

In 1650, General Monck, with a force of 600 men, attacked and took Rosslyn Castle, after demolishing almost the entire NW (sic) side. The site of his battery is still pointed out upon an artificial square mound.

A Kerr 1878

After the capture of Dirleton Castle, Monck left for Roslin on the 9th November 1650 with "600 men besides horse". The garrison of the castle, about 25 men, surrendered in the course of the following week. It is not known if he had heavy artillery, though it is possible.

W S Douglas 1898

An area of ground 17.0m square, delineated by a ditch on average 2.0m wide and 1.4m deep. Dressed masonry is visible on the S and W sides of the square area, near the bottom of the ditch. The earthwork is in an excellent situation to overlook Rosslyn Castle, but the possibility of its being in fact a battery is discredited by the fact that there is no sign of a causeway across the ditch, to take on and remove guns. Just to the N are extensive remains of ornamental paths and garden beds, and it is possible that the "battery" is part of this arrangement. The stonework visible in the ditch is similar to that of the garden wall at Rosebank House nearby.

Visited by OS (JFC) 2 September 1954

This feature is as described. The possibility of its having been part of the garden arrangement is disputed by Mr Taylor (curator, Roslin Chapel), who states that a previous owner used stonework from the "Battery" to build his garden.

Visited by OS (SFS) 29 October 1975