Ryehill
Motte (Medieval)
Site Name Ryehill
Classification Motte (Medieval)
Canmore ID 45447
Site Number NS70NE 6
NGR NS 7941 0856
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/45447
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Sanquhar
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Nithsdale
- Former County Dumfries-shire
NS70NE 6 7941 0856.
(NS 7941 0856) Mote (NR)
OS 6" map (1958)
The summit area of this flat-topped motte measures some 62 ft NNW-SSE by 47 ft transversely; it has been regularly scarped all round and stands 8ft - 10ft high. It has been under cultivation, and there is no trace of a surrounding ditch. This was the ancient seat of the Rosses, who settled at Ryehill about the end of the 12th century.
RCAHMS 1920, visited 1913; W D Simpson 1939
The motte is situated on the edge of terrace slopes overlooking the flood plain. There are 15.0m high natural slopes on the west side and elsewhere the slopes are up to 3.0m high. The sub-oval level top measuring 20.0m NW-SE by 17.0m shows evidence of rig cultivation. There is a small quantity of stone visible around the edge of the summit area and surface quarrying has disfigured the north side.
Revised at 25".
Visited by OS (TRG) 10 April 1978
