Kilfillan Point
Fort (Period Unassigned)(Possible), Natural Feature (Period Unknown)
Site Name Kilfillan Point
Classification Fort (Period Unassigned)(Possible), Natural Feature (Period Unknown)
Canmore ID 62252
Site Number NX25SW 22
NGR NX 2015 5422
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/62252
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Old Luce
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Wigtown
- Former County Wigtownshire
NX25SW 22 2015 5422.
Promontory Fort, Kilfillan Point: A peninsular rock cut off on the S by a narrow creek presents to landward a wall of rock, 15' high. Behind this are one or two small grassy plats, the largest c. 10' square, beyond which, jagged and irregular, the rock dips to seaward. Across the isthmus, extending for 70', is an apparently natural hollow 12' wide. Over this, 36' from the N end, a roadway of stones 7' wide has been formed. The numerous blocks of stone lying on the sides of the roadway and on the scarps of the hollow indicate stone parapets or walls. The approach across the hollow faces the perpendicular rock, beneath which it turns N and passes behind it at the N side. To the S across the head of the creek a grassy hollow between the rocks leading to the approach appears to have been closed by walls at both ends.
RCAHMS 1912, visited 1911.
NX 2015 5422. This substantial natural rock outcrop, near the water's edge, is overlooked on all landward sides and is not in a defensive situation. The only possible habitable area behind the 'wall of rock' comprises two very small level grass patches. These two 'plats' (platforms), the 'roadway of stone' and the grassy hollow appear to be fortuitous natural features rather than artificial works; no surface evidence of walling was encountered.
This feature is almost certainly not an antiquity.
Visited by OS (BS) 26 April 1977.
Field Visit (28 September 1953)
Promontory Fort, Kilfillan Point (Inventory No. 308).
The Inventory description is adequate. The numerous blocks of stone lying in the hollow are certainly derived from a heavy dry-stone wall which has cut off the rocky point, but the rock itself affords such limited space for occupation that it could only have been a single family residence and a term fort is somewhat too grandiloquent. It is difficult, however, to think of a more suitable classification.
Visited by RCAHMS (KA Steer) 28 September 1953.
