Maiden Castle, Duniface Hill

Maiden Castle, Dunipace Hill [sic].

At the eastern extremity of the parish, on a low ridge running north and south and opposite the bridge which passes over Kennoway Burn, is a steep conical knoll of artificial construction known as the Maiden Castle and evidently a mediaeval mote-hill. The summit of the knoll is planted around the margin with trees, and the slopes on the west, south-west, and south are thickly covered with a growth of whins, while there are two comparatively recent excavations near the crest on the east. Around the slopes, especially on the west and south, there are indications of a slight terracing, and a flattening of the ridge suggests that there has been an approach from the south or south-east. The summit of the knoll is of a roughly circular form, outlined by a low ridge scarcely rising above the interior level. In the centre is a circular depression, approximately 3 feet in depth and 18 feet in diameter. The site is traditionally associated with "Macduff, Thane of Fife," Hector Boece describing it as surrounded by seven ramparts and the same number of ditches and as the remains of the place wherefor a long time lived the descendants of the "illustrious" Macduff (1).

RCAHMS 1933, visited 2 July 1925.

xxviii N .E.

(1) Scotorum Historiae, Paris, 1526, lib. x, fo. ccv verso.

NO30SW 9 3495 0152

NO 3495 0152 Maiden Castle (Fort) (NR)

OS 6" map (1938)

Maiden Castle, Dunipace Hill - This steep conical knoll, of artificial construction is evidently a medieval mote-hill. Around the slopes, especially on the west and south there are indications of a slight terracing and a flattening of the ridge suggests that there has been an approach from the SSE. In the centre of the summit there is a hole, 3' deep and some 18' in diameter.

The site is traditionally associated with "Macduff, Thane of Fife". Hector Boece (1526) describing it as surrounded by 7 ramparts and ditches and as the remains of the place where for a long time lived the descendants of the "illustrious" Macduff.

RCAHMS 1933

Information from OS Index Card, (FKB) 8 July 1952

A circular hill, as described above, the circular flat top measures 21.0m diameter with traces of stonework on the circumference. The hole mentioned by RCAHMS is greatly silted up and is now no more than 0.5m deep. The motte is situated on a natural ridge; the entrance to the SE is defended by three ditches.

Visited by OS (JFC), 4 October 1954

The slopes on knoll are still well-defined,the remains of ditches less so. The only stonework found is shown by near-view photograph and its plan position has been indicated by small rectangle on the astrafoil.

Visited by OS Reviser (DS), 10 March 1961.

Maiden Castle, Motte, in Kennoway, Fife, NO 3495 0152, is described by the RCAHMS as being at "Dunipace Hill". This is incorrect, it should read DuniFace Hill, cf. OS maps etc. Dunipace is elsewhere, though it does have a hill very like this one. For more on Duniface, cf. S. Taylor with G Markus, place-Names of Fife vol. 2, and http://fife-placenames.glasgow.ac.uk/placename/?id=1505.

Information from Professor Thomas Clancy, 8th August 2017

The RCAHMS (RCAHMS 1933) incorrectly records Duniface Hill as ‘Dunipace’. ‘Dunniface’ or ‘Duniface’ are the names recorded in the OS Name Book and on the corresponding 1st edition of the 6-inch map (Fife 1856, xxiv). Duniface is also the name given to a farmstead lying to the SE of the hill. John Ainslie’s 1775 map of the County of Fife is annotated with ‘Dinnyface’.

Information from HES Survey and Recording (LMcC), 14 August 2017