Archaeology Notes

Event ID 726887

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/726887

NX64NE 5 6879 4570.

(NX 6879 4570) Drummore Castle (NR)

OS 6" map (1957)

This fort, occupying a conspicuous hill, is oval on plan, measuring 210' NE-SW by 160' transversely within a stony rampart or wall which has a hornwork covering the entrance, in the NE. This is surrounded by two other ramparts and a medial ditch, which may be strictly contemporary, but are more likely modifications to add strength. In 1952, the interior, which had been ploughed at one time was described as featureless, but in 1911, an 8' diameter hole, having the appearance of a well filled with stones, was noted in the S corner, at the base of the rampart. A similar hollow, 6' in diameter, was also noted at the base of the outer rampart.

This fort is reminiscent of the local vitrified group, but no vitrification was noted in 1952 (RCAHMS TS., 1 October 1952).

R W Feachem 1963; RCAHMS 1914, visited 1911

Drummore Castle (name confirmed) situated on the rounded top of Castle Hill, is an oval fort of two phases, which measures internally 64.0m NE-SW by 46.0m transversely.

Phase I consists of two ditches between three earth-and- stone ramparts except on the SE side where two scarps and a berm only survive, all traces of the outer rampart having been destroyed by ploughing. The entrance is in the NE.

Phase II consists of a single stone wall which overlies the inner rampart of Phase I except at the N end where it has been constructed within the line of the earlier phase. This wall accompanied by a recutting of the ditch on the S, but not elsewhere which would suggest that Phase II is incomplete. There are two breaks in the rampart at the N end.

The interior is featureless with no trace of either of the holes mentioned.

Surveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS (JP) 25 January 1971.