Milton Bridge

NS36NE 13 35806 68347

Mound (NR)

OS 6" map (1911).

(NS 3580 6834) Motte (NR)

OS 6" map (1968).

Location formerly entered as NS 3580 6834.

Not to be confused with Duchal Castle (NS 3345 6852), for which see NS36NW 8, or with Duchal House (NS 35344 68012), for which see NS36NE 30.00.

A mound at Denniston, near the present house of Duchal, was excavated in May 1894 by Murray. It was found to consist of clay, probably taken from the adjacent hollow. A trench was cut E-W 6' deep and 4' wide. About 4' from the surface were found 4 rows of rough boulders from E-W. Beneath these stones was a layer of ash 1" - 2" thick, forming a distinct layer and extending apparently to the circumference of the mound. The trench was taken down to natural ground level, but nothing else was found.

J Murray 1907

This is a well-defined grass-covered mound of earth with little stone in evidence. It measures 24.0m in overall diameter, with an almost circular flat top measuring 14.0m E-W by 13.2m N-S. Its height varies from c. 4.0m on the W to c. 2.0m on the E side. There is no evidence of a ditch or bailey, but this feature is probably a motte.

Revised at 25".

Visited by OS (WDJ) 14 May 1964

A 15th to 16th century copper 'jetton' (counting piece) and a sherd of medieval pottery was recovered from an erosion scar at the base, on the northern side of the motte, although not as a defended structure.

Sponsor: Renfrewshire Local History Forum.

D Alexander 1992

As part of a study of early castles in Renfrewshire a contour survey of this site and its immediate surroundings was carried out, at the scale 1:200.

Sponsor: Renfrewshire Local History Forum.

D Alexander 1994c.

Scheduled as 'Duchal House, motte 570m NE of... the remains of a motte associated with an Anglo-Norman timber castle... [and] visible as a substantial mound located in a prominent position overlooking the Gryfe Water...'

Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 11 February 2011.