THE PREHISTORIC FORTS, ETC. 1 AYRSHIREF O 38 , .
II. E PREHISTORITH C FORTS, &c.AYRSHIREF O , D.Y B CHRISTISON. , M.D., SECRETARY. (PLATES V., VI.)
summee th n f I 1891ro I bega, na genera l investigatio e preth -f no historic fort f Ayrshireo s severA . e illness, however t shorcu y , m t labours before they were half accomplished, and has prevented me from presenting the results in the exhaustive manner which I desired. In orde givo t r complets ea e subjecviea e th s possibli f wo s a t e undee th r circumstances I description,n hav ow e y adde m pland o an st d s brief reference e fortth so t swhic hI faile seeo dt , founde e Ordnancth n do e Survey plans on the 6 and 25 inch scales. These plans, however, are t alwayno e bests th reliables the t a ,e onla yar d y an ground-plans, , they give merel generae yth e numbee worksl th th siz f d f eo defensiv o ,an r e lines, but not their relief, or the nature of the ground on which they stand; unfortunately, also, it is often difficult to determine whether ram- part trencher o s e representedar s s almosi t i d t an ,alway s impossiblo et say whether the ramparts are of earth or stone. Still, the information is better than none; and these references will at least serve to point out the number and position of forts which still require investigation. plansy m n , I whic mere ar he rude approximation truthe th o t s, made by partiay pacingb d lan relianc Ordnance th n eo e plans ,I hav e followed the systems used and explained in previous papers. Suffice it to recapitulate here, thanorte th l placet al hf i the e e wers th a dar y t ea pagee heath f ;do tha e scaltth f o thosen o e tex e eth ar twhic n i e ar h n inch a 0 fee o 12 ,t t sectional details being sometime doubln so e that scale ; that those in the plates are on half scale, or 240 feet to an inch ; tha l measuremental t feetn i e . sar As to the classification adopted, nothing is more difficult than to classify object e natursth f whico e s verhi y imperfectly ascertainedt bu , description woul utterle b d y chaotic without some kin e f ordeo dth n i r I detailshav d ean ,accordingl y subdivide e variouth d s fortifications, sometimes with misgiving whetheo t s a s rthein i the e r yar prope r place, 2 38 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE , 18938 TH Y .F O SMA ,
under the heads of (1) Motes, and structures analogous to them ; (2) Forts and " Camps" ; (3) Works of a douhtful character..
. I MOTES, MOUNTS. Eeferrin readery m ga genera o t s l accoun f Scottiso t h y motem n si paper on Dumfriesshire Forts (Proc., 1891, p. 208), I merely state here that comparatively few of the structures so-called in Scotland resemble e Englisth h motes, whico characteristicalls e har y compose f artificiao d l mounds of earth, with a trench at the foot, a rampart outside the trench, and frequently a hase court hesides. In Scotland, not only did the shallowness of the soil in most localities forbid such erections, but the conformation of the ground, presenting innumerable little defensible eminences, was a direct temptation to the construction of fortresses by e carvinth d adaptatioan g f suco n h natural fortresses. Thu Kirkn i s - cudbrightshire, where "motes " armorr efa e numerou othesy thaan rn i Scottis h. Coles E county . F 'r observationM , s show thagreae th t t mass of them depart far indeed from the English model, although the cele- brated Mote of Urr is the best example of that model in Scotland. In Ayrshire, although the number of " motes " is comparatively small, the majority, so far as I have observed, conform to the true type by their elevated mound-like character, with flattene regulad an p rdto circular r ovao l e namformTh e. mote occurs sixteen e e O.Mtimeth th f n o .so county, in two or three instances apparently without any remains exist- ing; while in one or two others it is perhaps only a name bestowed on natural mounds from a resemblance to the motes. A few mounts have been added thers a , s reasoei o believnt e that mount nama s somr i e fo e mote n Dumfriesshirei s . Moun rathea s i t r common nam Ayrshirn ei e for little round eminences, often plantede majoritth t evidentle bu , yar y modern s whea , n several occur togethe a park n i r , with modern names. I have only taken a few which I have judged from personal observation or from their appearanc e O.Mth bea o t .n o er some resemblance th o t e motes. (A.) Motes, . Daltnellington1 Mote ) tower2 e d th (figs san f o ove 1 .ease d th ren t Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. Vol. XXVII. PI. .V
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• Sj ,* Fig. 2^ Lanemark I ! ;V / tt, VV
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PLAN AYRSHIRF O S E MOTE FORT& S S /'Scale 2?
Fig. 1. Dalmellington Mote. Castle Crofts, whic s considerablhi y higher tha villagee roae th n Th d .
Fig . Dalmellingto2 . n Mote. 384 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, MAY 8, 1898.
Carsphairno t e Muith d narroa k an ,Waten i we e foo f ar th pasro t t sa the mote on its north side. The mound is nearly circular, 60 feet in diameter on the level top, and slopes steeply to a trench, which cuts it off from the Castle Crofts plateau on the east and south, and from the e villagslopth o et e westward. Northward, perhaps from erosion, there is no room for a trench, hut a narrow terrace, overlooking the descent to . the hum, completes the circuit. The trench slopes towards the north, so tha greatese th t t moundheighe th f o t , abou 0 feet3 t towards i , s this terrace, and the top of the mote may be 60 to 70 feet above the village n 9 feea o e burnd trencs t e bottom width an ha Th 6 t .s d hi a e an , outer flat-toppe rampar w e wesdlo th tn o tside . About forty yearo sag the mots "restored,ewa I finn inquir t o d "bu y that nothing mors ewa done than a necessary filling up of gaps formed by the rain. 2. Mote Knoice, Kilkerran (figs. 3 and 4), about 600 feet above the
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Fig. 3. Mote Knowe, Kilkerran. sea, in the angle of junction of two little rills which unite a little below the mote to form Dobbingston Burn, near the ruins of Kilkerran Castle. The mote is oval, and stands out conspicuously by reason of its isolation, although closely overlooked from higher groun e easd th an t o dt E PREHISTORITH C FORTS, ETC. F AYRSHIREO , . 385
south. It appears to be partly natural, and stands from 15 to 25 feet in height, with steep sides, except towards the east. The top measures e bas0 feet 3 Th s aboui surroundeeX . 0 9 t a stri f y marsho pb d y ground, with remains of a rampart on the north and south sides. On
Fig. 4. Mote Knowe, Kilkerran. the south this rampart protects the trench-like marsh from the high ground e nortoutsideth n h O thera descen. s a i eterrace o t t , which probably covered the whole north face originally, but the western half has apparently been carried away by the burn. At the foot of the west
Fig. 5. Alloway Mote. therd en some ear e sign f fortificatioso r enclosuro n e smalth f elo piece of ground betwee junctioe th burnsmote e d nth th f ean no . 3. Alloway Mote (fig. 5), nearly half a mile E. of Brig o' Doon, at the VOL. XXVII. 2 B 386 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, MAY 8, 1893.
entranc o Doonholet m grounds e edga steeth f eo n p o , descent, 70 feet e rivehighth o rt , Doone wor Th s semi-ovali k. , wit e unfortifieth h d bas ee descent restinedg e th e interio th f eo Th n go . s onli r 0 feey3 t eac fee0 1 hraises i t r way o abovd d8 an e ,leve th e l ground aroun. dit The single massive rampart is 5 to 6 feet high inside and 10 to 15 outside, and is apparently of earth, but the whole work is choked with trees, shrubs, and briars. 4. Mote Knowe, MonJewood (fig. 6), a mile and a quarter W.S.W. of Dalrymple church, on the left bank of the Doon, on a somewhat de-
30 v, • . Mot6 . e Kg Knowe, Monkwood. tached mound, about 60 feet above the river, from which it rises in a sheer precipic e southe leveth Th n l.o e circular interior 0 fee5 n ,i t diameter, is girdled by the grass-grown remains apparently of a stone wall, 2 or 3 feet high and 15 wide, where best preserved, a good many large stones being visible. To the west the ground falls about 12 feet to a trench-like hollow, which cuts off the mound from the neighbouring THE PREHISTORIC FOBTS, ETC., OF AYRSHIRE. 387 field. A narrow sloping terrace fills the space between the wall and the precipice to the south, and, contracting to the east, is edged by an abrupt descen littla fee5 1 o t tef o tflat , from which another steep descent falls 30 feet nearly to the level of the stream. 5. Trowier Mote..—A nearly circular flat-topped mound, which projects inte plaith o n b a ynarro w neck ridge froth e foo ef mth o t that faces Girvanamedeaste o s th s t i ,riseI n no . s abou fee0 3 t t above a regula s e ha plain rth d artificiaan , l aspect t traco thern bu ,f o s ei e fortification, and the diameter of the top, 330 feet by the O.M., seems much too great for a Scottish mote. 6. Girvan Mote.—Nothing remains on the site, which is \ of a mile east of the town, save a gentle but conspicuous little eminence, rising above a level field. On the O.M. it is represented by a dotted circle, 150 fee diametern i t . These are all the motes that I have seen in the county. I add a brief notice of the others which are marked on the O.M. . Mote,7 Hill, Cumnock.—^ mila Cumnocked ISLEOl f o , . Apparently a narrow mound, 600 feet long, by from '50 to 100 in breadth, on a peninsula of 900 by from 300 to 400 feet, formed by a sharp bend of Lugar Water. . Dornal8 Mote.— Cumnockw 3J Ne repres i f mile t o I . -.E s 1STy b . sented as in fig. 1, Plate V. A unique plan, unintelligible without explanation. . Carleton9 Mote.—2^ miles jST.N.W f Colmonello . simpleA . , flat- topped, low, circular mound, 90 feet in diameter on the top. . Bennane10 Mote.— f Bennao a mil . f E eo f n Head simplA . e mound, apparently higher than the last, and 50 feet in diameter on the top. 11. Mote Knows, Lanemark.—On the east side of Lane Burn, 2 miles Cumnockw Ne f o . S . W y Representeb . fign , Plati 2 .s . da e V e Doonans.— . th Mote 12 f o 1^ mile S.E f Straiton.o namA .n eo . sid S f Kildoaco e h Burn a heigha mil f n o o e, tf oppositd an o t e N.E Doonane "f .th o sDoonan n "o s Hill, both abou fee0 t90 t above eth sea. 13. Mote Wood.—A name only, at Old Dailly. 388 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, MAY 8, 1893. •
14. Mote Knowe.—A name only. On the north bank of the Nith, 1-J m. above New Cunmock, about 600 feet above the sea. 15. Mote Knowe.—A rocky site in the uninhabited region E. of Loch Doon. . Mote16 Knowe.—A name only t Laggana , a ,mil e from moutf o h Stinchar Burn.
(B.) Mounts.
. The.1 Glen Mount.—A. f Kilbridemilo . eE 0 feeKy b 25 ,t above the sea, on the edge of the little ravine of Bush Glen, on its south side. An evidently artificial circular mound, with a flat top about 60 feet in diameter, partly raised a few feet above a field, partly projected into the ravine. No trace of fortification. 2. Bush Glen Mount.—300 yards E.S.E. of the Glen Mount, rising feew fe ta abovfee3 r t o fiele a e middlel morround2 th al d d n ei an ,. slighA t mound circumscribe , sucit s ofte s ha n surrounds little circular plantations, and it is planted. A doubtful fort. 3. Knock Rivoclt Mount.—2 miles N.N.E. of Ardrossan, 464 feet above the sea, in a field. A simple, conspicuous, and, I should think, certainly artificiale moun th fee 0 t closn 4 o tno X it) o d et s 0 ,(bu6 wa I t oval summit on the O.M. . Baillie4 Hill Mount.—70 yards wes f Carmeo t l Water, near Busbie Castle, Ij miles W.N.W. of Kilmarnock. Apparently a high mound, 180 X 120 feet on the flat oval summit (O.M.). 5. Shell Knowe, Almont.—In the bend of the Stinchar Kiver, -| mile west of Pinwherry Station. Apparently a regular high mound, with a feefla5 4 t t x top (O.M.)0 6 , . s possibli t I e that som f theso e e mount havy ma es been moot-hills rather than Motes; may have been used for the administration of justice rather tha s placea n f defenceo s . Accordingly I ,giv e beloo wtw example f mountsso actuall alond yan gbearin; witw name hLa th g f eo them, as being probably of the same class, the Court hills in the county. THE PREHISTORIC FORTS, ETC., OF AYRSHIRE. 389
(C. Hills,w ) La Court d Mounts,an Knowesd an (O.M.). Mount,w La . n Annic1 o k Water a mil, e S.W f Stewartono . t a , Chapelton, apparently a small mound. w Mount,La . 2 clos o Skeldot e n House, ahove Barbieston Castle ruins, river Don, about \ mile E. of Dalrymple. . Court3 Hill, abouEnglisd ol f Beithf to mil n . h[I E eletter] . — no mound represented. . Court4 Knowe,d Hal Ol f Auchincrosso lt a 2 mile, w sNe "Wf o . Cumnock. . Court5 Knowe, rocka y hill Locf 2o J d hmile en Boon. . sE Nf o . 6. Court Hill, a rocky site, "W. of Loch Boon. 7. Court Knowe, a considerable hill at Balmannoch (457), 1 mile from mout f Ballochdoae countyho th f o .d en n. e sea S Burnth . d an ,
II. FORTS AND " CAMPS." n arranginI g this e brancsubjectth f o hI hav , e taken first those structures whic n stil e mostca hb l certainly identifie s beina d g forts, keeping together suc shos ha w some resemblanc typen e i the d an ,n those in which the evidence of fortification is slight, doubtful, or has quite disappeared. Those tha e reference I havth t t seen d no e an , whico st h froe e Ordnancar mth e map distinguishee ,ar (O.M.)y db . 1. Carwinning—(Plate V. fig. 4)—2 miles north by west of Dairy, 8 fee65 t abov a conspicuoue sea n eth o , s height, projecting inte th o Pitcon valley from the high ridge between it and the Caaf valley. The sit s easili e y accessible only from this e westridgth o .t e Boune dth flank descene th s t increases rapidl n heighyi steepnesd an t almosn a o st t inaccessible declivitvallee easth e 0 fee th o yt 25 tt n ybelowo thin O s . strong position are the poor remains of a large and powerful stone fort. The central enclosure of 105 by 90 • feet is encompassed by a stony moun n heightf i earth do o tw fooa , ,r o distinctlt y traceable only about roundy hal seconwa A f . d wall t concentrino , c wit laste hth , being 130 e wesd southth an tt n easte neareo d curvinth bu ,fee f an ,n of to r n i g apparentl joio yt innee nth e rnort th wal n ho l from both sides, shows little remains sligha t bu ,t mound roundabouy d wa a tfourte an , th f ho 0 39 PROCEEDING E SOCIETY , 18938 TH Y F .SO MA ,
scattered stones elsewhere. A third wall, 80 feet further down the gentle decline from the summit, is still substantial, 2 or 3 feet high and 12 to 15 feet wide, grass grown, but evidently of stone. It is quite lost oh the steep north and east descents, so that the connection with the inner lines cannot be determined. The entrance appears to have been fro e westmth . 2. Harpercrofts, Dundonald—(Plate VI. fig. 1)—about the middle e Dundonaloth f s topsd it 0 fee an f 45 ,o t a dabove se ridge on e en th o , abov0 10 e Harpercrofts farm-hous e northlevee th Th o let . summi s i t enclosed by a stony grass-grown mound, 18 to 24 feet wide, half a foot above the interior, and in parts 5 above the exterior. The ground falls gentl y n thre e north-weso froth t emi o t sides t bu t, thera s i e plateau 50 yards wide. The enclosure, roughly circular, is 300 feet in diameter from s cresnorth-eas it o crest t t t A . oblonn t a en s i dg enclosure, rounded at its north-east end, with straight sides and open to S.W.e th , wher remaine ear transversa f so e wall, running fro s endmit s acros e interioth s t eaca r h side. Beyond this-wal e othear l r obscure mounds distanca yard0 t 10 A s o . t f fro efro o inne0 e mm6 th r rampart, another, scarcely less massive, circles round it, which can be traced all the way almost without a break. The inner rampart resembles those of many Argyleshire fort beinn si g constructed wit s innehit e r th fac t ea edge of the slope and its outer face on the slope, so as to be several feet higher outsid n plad esizI an ethan . thinin s fort much resembles Carwinning. 3. Kemp Law, Dundonald—(fig. 7)—f mile S.W. of Dundonald Castle, close to Hallyards farm, at the N.E. end of a little wooded ridge, whic e trough th a littllie n f i so he ravine which cuts through e Dundonalth d rang f hillse o abou d fee0 an , 35 t abov seae e eth Th . ridge is about 30 feet high, is tolerably level on the top, and narrows ease poina th t o t t enda t . Here stand e uniquth s e fort, buriea n i d dense scru f thorno b y bushes t consistI . centraa f so l cairn-like mass 0 across6 o t o ,f9 fee somewha0 stoner 5 t o hig d 8 san h t semi- circular in shape, the base resting to the north on a straight wall or rampart, which stands on the very edge of the ravine, and running on to the point, turns there and circles round the free part of the central mass, Proc.Soc. Antiq. Scot. Vol. XXVII. PI.VI
fig.l, Ha.'percrofkf
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PLANS OF AYRSHIRE FORTS 24O Feet an.to Jncft-J E PREHISTORITH C FORTS, ETC. F AYRSHIREO , . 391
with a level space 6 to 10 feet wide between ; the irregular top of the central mas abous i s fee 0 diametern 2 i tt enclosine Th . o gt wal3 s i l 4 s beefee 0 acrossha 2 t n t higpartialld bu , an h y removee th n o d side towards the plateau. It runs close to the edge on the N. and S., t ther projectina bu s ei g nose, 15 fee te east longth , o t entirel, y covered with a mass of tumbled stones, from which there is an abrupt descent 0 fee1 t high, also covered with stones, beyond whic e slopth h o t e e ravinth gentles i ee straigh . Th appeaS . d to N"e t an rwallth . n o s be prolonged about 80 yards along the edge of the plateau, gradually
Fig . Kem7 . p Law, Dundonald.
diverging as it widens westwards, but there is no distinct evidence of worke th , being closed thertransversa y eb e wall. This outer s walit n i l whole course stand littla n so e rock feeyw facetfe a high, , which from below looks like Cyclopean masonry e mostreallys i th t r bu ,fo par, t a t least, natura tumblee th fooe f lth o trock t dA stoneease . th tt sa poin t ther somethins ei g likremaine eth buila f so t entrance bloca , k measuring 6x4 feet, another 4x4, and others neavly 7 feet long, lying close together. Ther s alsi en apparen a o t entranc e westth o ,t e closo et the straight north wall. This fort is marked " Vitrified " on the O.M. t afteBu r careful search I coul, d only smal o finp tw dto l e pieceth n so e centraoth f l mas twd o san trenc e mors footth it n t e.i ha This unique fort well deserves a thorough investigation by excavation. 392 PKOCEEDING E SOCIETY , 18938 TH Y F .O SMA ,
4. DowUll—(fig. 8)—f of a mile S.E. of Girvan, on a bold rooky height overlooking the Girvan plain, and 518 feet above the sea. The summit- is about 500 feet long, and from 50 to 100 wide. The citadel has been at the highest and narrowest part, nearer • the west than the east end. The interior is about 50 'feet in diameter, unfortifie e nort th d sout n an ho dh sides, whic e precipitouar h d an s inaccessible, but protected to the east and west by a curved wall, of whic e grass-growth h n remain e verar s y scanty, formin ga mound ' scarcely a foot high, but about 30 feet wide, with sockets of large stones
Fig. 8. Dowhill, Girvan. remaining in one place. Eastward, the ridge slopes gently for 200 feet to the rocky edge and steep descent at the east end. At first sight five concentric ramparts seem to have been drawn across this space, but on closer examination only the one nearest the citadel is undoubtedly artificial e otherth , s seemin e outcropb o gt f rocko s . Westwarde th , citadel is covered by three terraces—one close to it, and on the same level the others a few feet lower. Beyond this is a narrow plateau or point t fortified no ,e thir Th d. terrace curves e nortrounth r fo o ht d THE PREHISTOKIC FORTS, ETC. 3 AYRSHIREF O 39 , .
about 150 feet, and is protected by a rampart; below it, a narrow terrace or roadway slopes down the north face, and was probably the old approach to the fort from the plain. . Wardlaw,5 Dundonald—(Plate . figVI . 2).—Thi onee sb t forti , f i , s onli yard0 y16 s from Harpercrofts Fort, from whic separates i t hi y db sligha t descent fee 0 abrupn thi4 o highese t a t r th sd o 0 an t, 3 tris f eo summit of the Dundonald range (477 feet). All that exists is a remarkably regular, curved, grassy and stony rampart, 160 feet long, 18 fee t 5 higwide d h an outside, , whic htolerable th cut f sof y level interior from a plateau on the JS\W. The level summit measures 230 by 200 feet, but, including a slight slope to the edge of the steep descent north-eastward, the space is 340 by 200 feet. 6. Downans, Dunree—(Plate VI. fig. 5)—J mile S.E. of Cassilis Housea conspicuou on , s green eminence, wit perfectla h y level top, 442 feet above the sea, and 250 above the Doon, 700 yards to the north-west. A grassy mound, 3 to 6 feet high outside, and 15 to 20 across, showing many stones, girdle e summitth s , enclosin a gspac f o e 120 by 110 feet, with an entrance to the W.S.W. Outside, a slightly sloping terrace fee0 2 , t1 o 2t wide , extende stee e th edg th f p o eo st descent, and there are remains of a wall at the rim. The elevation of the site varies from 30 to 150 feet, except to the north, where a plateau fee0 1 , tonlr o belo y 8 summite wth , form unfortifien a s d space, twice as large as that contained within the rampart. There are some shapeless little mounds on the southern half of the interior, and a large artificial-looking moun easte th site .th o fooe dt f th lieo tt sa . Portincross.—7 A conspicuous ridge, which overhangs Portincross Haven and Castle, after running about 300 yards northwards by a broad top, suddenly narrow necka turnd o st an , s westwards int oheaa d which is the site of the fort. The position is well marked for defence, from s loftit y isolatio steed an n p rock yslighe sidesth t t bu ,sign f fortificaso - tioalmose nar t confine shallowe th o dt , saucer-like, actual summit, which measure gentle feet6 Th 2 se. y onlneckb e slop 5 th fee y0 4 o 9 e,t t long, somewhae th d an t lowe e summire westth par th f o o t,t t 18 y 60b 0 fee n extenti t , must have been included, however, almost necessarily, forte th . n i 394 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, MAY 8, 1893.
8. Near Mont/ode Castle, on the burn which passes it, 300 yards from its mouth, and a mile NYW. of Ardrossan. The site is on the north side of the burn, on a nearly isolated point at the end of a field, raised some 20 or 30 feet above the plain. towards the sea. It is. cut off from the field by a slight dip in the ground, not 6 feet deep, but the height rises gradually all round to 25 feet at the burn. The small circular interior shows only doubtful signs of fortification, but is stony, and contains obscure mounds. 9. Dinvin— 11)—2d an , (figs.10 J , mile9 s E.S.E Girvanf o . fee1 59 ,t greea abov f soute o seane th d eth t ridgeh a ,en , feet3 risin88 , o gwhict h
Fig . Dinvin9 . . from opposite Girvan runs southward about 3 miles. The site is the sum- sligha f o gentle t t th rismi n eei southern descen ridgefore e th tTh f .to e besth tf o preserve e on s i d earthwork Scotlandn si ovae Th l .summi t measures 87 by 54 feet, of which the nearly circular western part appear havo st e been surrounde a ston y b de wall touchin .rie n mth go three sides. Eastward a gentle slope leads to a ramp constructed across innee th r trenche moun e sideth f Th e steeplo sd.ar y e scarpedth d an , E PREHISTOEITH C FORTS, ETC. F AYRSHIREO , . 395
outer defences consist of two ramparts, with intervening trenches. The s froi p m to 1o 10t 4 feet abov e inneth e r trenc e inneth h; r rampart varie fee5 1 ts o t abovfro 0 e mtrenc1 e th h s beyondi outee e th d on r an , fee8 froo tt ahovm3 groune eth d outside. trenchee Th froe o t ar sm6
Fig. 10. Dinvin—general view. 10 feet wide at the bottom. There are breaks through both ramparts to the west and through the inner one to the north, but probably the only original entranc connection i s i e n wit ease e ramhth th t t pa end , which
'*r-( £'^>>-*t Fig . Dinvin11 . , fro outee mth r rampart. turns obliquely away froe correspondinmth g break throug e outeth h r rampart. . HadyardHUl—10 (Plate VI.fig. 4)—1J miles S.S.W Daillyf .o , 1028 feet above the sea, and 900 above Girvan Water, on the edge of a steep descenfee0 50 t f towardo t e streasth m north-westward. Her e woreth k is open, but elsewhere a double mound encloses a central space of 270 by 230 feet. As they leave the edge the two mounds are close together, t thebu y gradually diverge til 0 feel 5 the te e oppositaparyth ar t a t e e southth o endT , perhap. s from subsidenc marshe th n ei y slope, they have littl emore relief,ar ed likan e e hill-facescarpth n so . Elsewhere 6 39 .PKOCEEDING E SOCIETYTH 8Y F , O 1893S MA , .
the.' mounds vary fro feem4 e neve2 n widthi ar t1o t 2d r an ,abov e4 feet:hig e firmeoutsidee th th n o rhI t groun.e nort th some ho ar t d e remains of a trench in front of them. 11. Hollosliean—(Plate . figVI . 3)—o e flath nt summi a littl f o et ridge, about 600 feet above the sea, a mile S.E. of Kirkoswald. 'A steep descent, from 50 to 80 feet high, protects the south flank, but the north flank and west end are weak, particularly the latter, which descends by a gentle slope, not above 10 feet in height at one part, only to rise agai a prolongatio o nt ridgee th f ,no whic s highehi r tha e fortifienth d site. The east end is the weakest, however, as it is approached by a level neck, and here alone do any fortifications remain. Pour concentric curved ramparts have, been drawn acros e necke th s f ar whico , o tw h still complete. They occup ywidta f 10ho 0 feetthd ean , lengt theif ho r s aboui c tar 180 e flatTh . interspace betwee e innenth r rampard an t fee 8 nexe 1 tth s i widet othere th , s onl feey6 t wide.mounde Th .e sar apparently of earth, and nowhere exceed 5 feet in height, but the ground has been cultivated f I trenche. s ever existed, they must have been filled up. The interior is about 250 by 180 feet. 12. Kildown—a similar fort to the last—occupies the conspicuous height, 568 feet above the sea, on which the monument to Sir C. Ferguson stands, 1J miles S. of Maybole. I did not examine it, but fro Ordnance mth wese plath e t interio a feen0 th 0 28 t lon18 s i r y gb ease th t s 9edgd t 0it a endan s wel i ed d ,lan en define a girdl y db f eo rocks or little precipices. A double rampart is drawn across the neck at e easth t end, occupying, wit wide hth e space between them breadta , f ho fully 60 feet. . Gouroclt13 Burn—(fig. 12)—2 milesE.S.E Kilbridef o . yard0 20 ,. sE from the sea and 100 feet above it, on the edge of the plateau which for several miles limit e narroth s we coast plaith n .o n Her bure th e n emerges from the plateau by a deep and steep cut, partially isolating the site. The fort consists of two flat-topped mounds, with steep and high descents on all sides except the north-west, where the most northerly t f froabou e cu of plateam5 feeth mount a 2 t tcu y b u deeps i dA . similar paralle t aboucu l2 fee1 t t deep separateo moundstw e f th o s, which the northerly one commands the other by about 6 or 7 feet. The THE PKEHISTOEIC FORTS, ETC., OF AYRSHIRE. 397 secone interio e th firs th f o t d f feet7 measureo rd abou2 an ,y 0 b 4 t 5 s4 by 40 feet. The first has remains of a rampart nearly all round; the secon dnorte onlth n hyo side. The apparentle yar y pure earthworks. •14. Seamill— onlittla e tongue projectine soutth f ho d g en fro e mth bank of the ravine of Kilbride Burn, where it emerges on the strip of low ground 300 yards from the sea, above which the site stands about 75 feet. A massive rampart cuts off the interior, which measures 90 by 60 feet, from the narrow neck by which it is approached from the
Fig . For 12 Gouroc.n o t k Burn.
high bank. Therotheo n s ri e fortification e ramparth d an t, rises about 8 feet above the interior and 15 above the trench. The sides fall steeply from 10 to 30 feet. 15. Knoclgargon—3 miles north of Ardrossan, 757 feet above the sea, on the first important summit of the rise from the sea; an oval, 350 by 200 feet over all. Interior 150 by 100, with a mound, 90 by 75, in centree th , crowne dottea y db d diametercirclen i 0 2 , . Three linef o s defence on three sides ; and six or seven on the north end, occupying 150 feet of breadth (O.M.). 398 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, MAY 8, 1893.
Knoclc—e 16Th . 1J miles e moutnorte JSToth th f df ho ho Burn , 712 feet above the sea. A conspicuous knob on the top of the high const ridge. A flat-topped mound at the S.E. comer, 60 by 30 feet, forms the central work, standing in a space 150x65, surrounded by a rampart or defensiv eove0 l (O.M.)lin 12 al somf r eo y b e 0 .kin21 d; 17. KirWiill— (Plate V. fig. 3)—2 miles N.N.W. of Dailly, on the 0 abov 75 e Girva th summied hille fee0 an th n 85 t,a f o tabovse e eth Water, south-eastnearle th a hal o a ymilt d f mounA an 2 e r . o d1 feet high and from 12 to 18 wide encloses a nearly circular space about 200 feet in diameter, within which at the south side there is a flat- topped mound, marked " Tumulus " on the O.M., about 13 feet high and from 40 to 50 feet in diameter on the ill-defined top, which is pitted with small squarish depressions. The ground is slightly trenched, both outside and inside the enclosing mound. I have included this in the doubtful class, as it seems to be of an unusual type, and possibly is -not fora t alla t . 18. Lindston, Dalrymple—If miles N.N.E. of Dalrymple church, on the nearly level summit of a broad ridge 400 feet above the sea. A circular wet ditch, 2l feet wide and 2 or 3 deep to the surface of the weedy water, enclose spaca s 0 fee diametern e13 i t , which scarcely riises above the surface of the surrounding field, and has no trace of a rampart. Simpl this ea almosts i quitet ist i ,no f i , uniqu Scotlandn ei . Perhaps it is mediaeval. . Woodland,19 Dalrymple—nearly mila e S.W f Dalrympl.o e church, close to Woodland farm, with no advantage of position. The plough has reduced it to a circular, much flattened dome, rising a few feet above a shallo wfee0 3 trenc t o t wid 0 h2 e ; about 170 fee diameten i t r over all. Possibly originally of the same character as the last, which is in the same district. d Moss,Re . 20 Loch Humeston—2 miles N.W f Mayboleo . , about 0 fee70 t abov e sea th ever A . y regular circular mound, 150 feen i t diameter, fee5 wit 4 diametern i t hflap a terraca to t d . an up , e y halwa f Possibly a mote (O.M.). . Doune21 Camp, Dounen o Knoll—at f Girvany o sout b d 5 hen 22 , 225 feet over all. Apparently a mound with a terrace % of the way THE PREHISTORIC FORTS, ETC. 9 AYRSHIREF O ,39 . round, and a circular flat top 120 feet in diameter, very regular in form (O.M.). Appear quite b o est destroyed. Fro mlittla e distanc eI coul d see no trace of fortification on its smooth, ploughed surface. 22. Dowhill—1\ miles f JSTGirvano . 8 fee12 , t abov e sea0 eth 30 , yards from it, on the edge of a descent to the east side of the coast road. A central work, nearly circular fee 5 diamete6 n ,i t r over all, touchee sth edge of the descent. Two outer concentric lines of defence form a semi- ova e frel th ; e ends comine edgeth o ,t g which form n unfortifiea s d bas0 fee21 et e outelongTh r. e inneinterspac th 0 fee 3 , r t50 s i e wide (O.M.). 23. The Camp, Knockmalloek—f of a mile N.N.E. of Kildonan House, fullfee500 yt abov seaethe . Circular fee130 ,t diameter over all rampart; interioTwo s? (O.M.70. r ) 24. Finnart—1 mile N". by E. of Finnart Bay and the mouth of Glen App. Single circular rampart, enclosing space 60 feet in diameter (O.M.). . Gfuiltree25 Hill—" Camp"—a Sit f o e a dotted circle 0 feen 18 i ,t diameter (O.M.) I coul. d fin. traco it n df eo 26. Newark—on Newark Hill, 3J miles S.S.W. of Ayr; J of a mile south-wes e summith f o t t (639) aboud fee0 an , 60 t abov seae eth . dotteA d circle fee0 diameten i 15 t, r (O.M.). . Dalrymple—27 mila f o ef S.W Dalrymplf .o e church fee0 20 t, above the sea, near Tile-works. A dotted circle, 150 feet in diameter (O.M.). 28. Goylton—1 \ miles W. of Coylton. 29. Dounan Hill—1| miles S.S.E. of Turnberry Castle, 170 yards from the sea. A site marked by a dotted circle, 180 feet in diameter, on the edge of a bank E. side of coast road (O.M.). 30. Campcastle, site of—^ of a mile north of Craigie church; a dotted circle, 55 feet diameter, on the top of a rocky site (O.M.). . North 31 Southd an CampMTl— Eye—e farmsth n o 3 J miles N.N.W. of Dairy. A camp must probably have existed between them, but no site indicated (O.M.).
RECTANGULAR " ROMAN " WORKS AND " RAMPARTS." 1. Camp, Barnweill—1J mile W.S.W. of Symington. Half a 400 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, MAY 8, 1893.
rectangle, the unfortified base resting on the edge of a steep straight bank doublA . fee0 basee 9 th enceintet y t ove)b (a r0 all15 , . Interior 75 X 50. Apparently the only rectangular work in the county except the " Koman Camp." . 2. "Roman Camp," Loudoun—J a mile S.W. of Loudoun Hill, 350 yards south of the river Irvine, 713 feet above the sea. As far e judgeb n dca fros e a pla th n mtho n e 6-inch scale n irregularla , y quadrilateral natural plateau, called tlie Beg, of 700 by from 300 to 350 feet, increase prolongatioa y db n south-eastwar lowea t da r leve 100o t l 0 f whico feet0 l 55 al includes ,hi o t e "Roma th 0 n 30 i d y nb Camp,s "a printed, occupies the S.E. end of a larger plateau, perhaps 1800 feet long in all, including the Camp. The part of the plateau outside the camp appear o falt s l considerabl HocN.W.e e th Th ao yt Bur n flows under s S.Wit . slope (O.M.). 3. Roman Trendies, Tarltolton—J mile west of the manse, in the grounds of Montgomerie, close to the bowling-green. Four trenches (?) irregularly parallel—two straight o slightltw , y curved—face north-east. The outer one is prolonged by a curved bend, afterwards taking a zigzag, so as to cover the TS.~W. flank of the other three. Space occupied, fee0 20 t (O.M.)y b 0 30 . 4. Ramparts, Knockdolian Castle—100 yards west of the Stinchar Eiver, with the ruins of the castle between. A narrow space, 320 0 wide5 s i includeo ,t fee 0 t 4 lon dy b gbetwee a nstraigh t two- sided rampart and a trifling hollow with a rill in it. The narrow east e ramparth f r o raise (o td en d fee0 terrac6 ts i wide) e ? e lonth , g north face 30 feet wide, the west end is open (O.M.).
NAME THN O SE O.M. POSSIBLY INDICATING FORTS. CASTLE HILLS, RAITHS. The numbe f "o rCastl e Hills n Ayrshirei " e O.M.th n ,o , wito n h sign of ruins in connection with them, is unusually large, amounting to twenty-seven. Some are the names of farm-houses, but most are attached moundo t s with apparentl remaino kiny n an d f upoo s n them, somf eo which may be mere sites, suitable for castles or forts, or resembling castles. "Castle," however a nam t s ^infrequentli no , e y giveo t n THE PEEHISTOEIC FORTS, ETC. 1 AYRSHIREF O 40 , .
prehistoric forts in Scotland, and these Ayrshire Castle Hills must be investigated, eac r itselffo h , befor n opinioe hazardea eb o n t ca ns a d their true nature. 1. Castle Hill, Largs——on a prominent hillock, projecting from the hill face, on the south side of the Gogo, 1500 yards from its mouth, 550 feet above the sea, very conspicuous from Largs. The summit, which measure sfeet0 1912 , 0X look s level from below t risebu , littlsa e towards the centre, and stands 10 or 12 feet above a trench-like hollow which curves across the neck towards the hill-face. To the west and sout e descentth h steee d rockyar s pan . To'the east ther gentla s ei e slope, varying from 10 to 40 feet in height. The base of a wall can be traced all round the summit, but it is very slight, except towards the neck, wher e grassth e y mound which nearl 9 fee yr t o conceal 8 s i t i s thick, and a foot or two high. 2. Castle Knowe, North Kilrushen—1| mile north of Kilbride. A triflin t evidenbu g t enough moun n i long-cultivated d ground, rising e othersabouth fee0 n 1 o t. t3 side above onlr d o on e fielan ,y2 n eth o d traco N f fortificationeo . . Castle3 Hill, North Howrat—2% miles N"W y f b Dairye .o . th n o , height between Pitcox and Caaf Burns, 600 feet above the sea. A remarkable, rock-girt, isolated little eminence, about 100 by 50 feet on the nearly level top, and 25 feet high. A natural fortress, but with no trac f artificiaeo l defence. 4. Castle Hill, Glen Burn—f of a mile from the burn mouth at Porteath, Huntersto edgne a stee th f Sandse o p n woodeO . d ravinea , somewhat isolated circle, projecting into the ravine (O.M.). . Castle5 Hill, Borland— e sitclose f th Borlan eo o t d Castle mile2 , s N.N.W. of Cumnock. Looks like a fort with incomplete double enceinte flat-toppea r o , d squarisf ho moundp to e th feet0 , 9 n 16 o ,y 0b another 210 by 180 feet (O.M.). 6. Castle Hill, Noddsdale, Largs.—A mound (O.M.). . Laverock7 Castle (900)—1£ mile E.N.E f mouto . f Nodo h A . mound (O.M.). . Castle8 Hill, Neimnilns—J mile E.N.Ee villageth f o .t junctio a , n of Burflatt and Joles Burns. A mound (O.M.). VOL. XXVII. 2 C 402 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, MAY 8, 1893.
9. Castle Hill—junction of Wyndy Burn with Ayr Eiver. A mound (O.M.). . Castle10 Hill (800)—5 miles N.E f Dalmellingtono . Nithe th n ,o , at Waterhead, close to "Site of Castle." -A mound (O.M.). . 11. Carnals Castle—near junction of Muck Water with Glen "Water, 2 miles IT. of junction with river Irvine. A mound (O.M.). . Castle12 Hill, Fleminghill—on Polbeath Burn 1 mil, e f No . junction with river Irvine. A small mound (O.M.). . Castle13 Hill, Bedding—on Polbeath Burn mile2 , s N.E f samo . e junction. A little mound" (O.M.). 14. Castle Hill, Alton—1J mile ]ST. of Galston. A little mound (O.M.). . Castle15 Hill—J mile S.W f Riecartono . regulaA . r oval mound, with flat top 55 X 30 feet (O.M.). 16. Jock's Castle (1000)—5J miles N.W. f Dairyo , Ne . Ey sid f o e Water. A name only. 17. Jock's Castle—S. side of Gogo Water, 2 miles from its mouth. A name only. 18. Castle Hill— a mil f ef-o above junctio f Greto n o Wated an r Gogo Water. A rocky spot. . Castle19 Hill— a mil f eo f nort f Lonho g Loc t hHiga h Walton. A name only. . Castle20 Hill—1 mile N.E Stevensonf o . farm-houseA . . 21. Castle Hill—junction of Greenock Water with river Ay].'. A name only. . Castle22 Hill Farm (171)—a mile S.E Ayrf o . . . Castle23 Hill,'Daillij—on Quarrelhill Burn, nea Statione th r . 24. Castle Isle—at the mouth of the Lane Burn, (Little) Loch Doon. Not an island. 25. Castle Hill Farm and O. H. Wood—3^ miles W.KW. of May- bole, 600 yards from the coast. . Castle-on-Oyne26 (1558)—nam hilla f eo ? 27. Castle Head (548)—at Dochroyle, 3f miles W.N.W. of Drumlam- ford House, in a very desolate region. Probably the name of a rocky knoll. THE PREHISTORIC FORTS, ETC., OF 3 AYKSHIBE40 .
Rath—a well-known name for Irish forts—seems scarcely to survive in that form in Scotland, but as in Ireland it also takes the forms of Raith, Ray, and as the pronunciation of Rath in Ireland is Raw, I give all the possible representatives of these forms on the O.M. of Ayrshire. t the e merBu yar e e Mapnameth , n o sapparentl y without remainf o s near kiny o t an rda them :— Raithhill—2 miles W.S.W. of Tarbolton. A mound (O.M.). Raithhill Farm—1 mile S.W Coyltonf o . . Raws Farm Rawsmuir—d an 3 miles E.N.E Kilmarnockf o . . Raw Farm—2 miles E.S.E. of Beith. Wraes Farm—3J miles E. of Kilmarnock.
GENERAL EEMABKS. MOTES. Number.—The name mote occurs sixteen times in various forms on foun I O.Me f theso th r . t eappeari s merel preservo yt memore eth f yo mote f whicso vestigo applies i n h t a i e) o dt (No.e remains 15 on n I . rocky heigh desera n i t t country, wher shoule ew d hardly expec fino t t d a defensive work. In the other eleven some kind of remains are indicated. Structure Size.—d an Only seven appea o havt r typicae eth l rounr o d oval, flat-topped, mound form, three of them being simple mounds with remaino n f fortificationso . variep Thei0 to 9 e sro th t fro siz n 0 o me3 fee n diametei t r greateso r t remainine lengthth f O . g four whice har more than mere names, Cumnock resemble e O.M longth a . n so , narrow, natural mound, 600 by from 50 to 200 feet; and Dornel is remarkable e map—th s sizfon it ro e a natural-lookin fee0 n 3 go t y moundb 0 18 , the top, appears to overlook a rudely circular space, nearly 500 feet in diameter, included by a dotted double circle, the interspace between the two circles varying in width from 60 to 180 feet. Within this inter- space "Dornal Moat" is printed. Nos. 11 and 12 are represented merely by dotted enclosing lines. It is possible that some of the Mounts and Castle Sills may have been motes, but there is no proof of it. Distribution.— s remarkablIti sixteee th tha l e al ntth moten i e sar 4 40 PROCEEDING E SOCIETY , 18938 TH Y F .O SMA ,
southern half of the county, south of the latitude of the town of Ayr. This appears to show some connection with Galloway, the great home n Scotlani e motesth f o d. The e prettar y y uniformly distributen i d the coast, central, and landward districts.
CURVILINEAR FORTS. Number.—The number of this class is small for so large and hilly a county. Not more than thirty-one can be proved to exist or to have mere existedf thesar o e x d esitessi an , , without remains. Form and Structure.—In form they are of the usual oval and circular types, modified occasionall e exigencieth y f e sitetwentyyb O th .f so - one whose plastiln fairle nca lb y well made out, twelve have more than one line of defence. The most complex seems to be Knockjargon (No. 15). Of fourteen that I have examined, five have undoubtedly been constructed mainl r entirelyo f stoneyo , but, judging from the plan and site of the others, I believe that most of them have also been stone forts. Size.—In making an estimate of size, I have taken the longest axis of habitable space within the enceinte. Thus, where two or three lines of defenc close ar e e together space th , e they occup t includedno s yi t bu ; when they lie well apart, the interspace is included. Of twenty-four whose dimension approximatele b n ca s y mad ee betwee ar out x si ,5 n5 5 fee 9 n theii t d ran diamete f circulari r longesr o , t axi f ovalsi ; nine are between 100 and 200 feet; four are between 200 and 300 feet; and four are between 320 and 400 feet. Carwinning (No. 1) is the largest, with a diameter of 400 feet, but it is possible that the diameter of Harperscroft (No. 2) which I have taken as 300 might be extended to 700 addition I . theseo nt "Sitex si , e srepresente "ar O.Me th .n do by dotted circles between 55 and 180 feet diameter, but I do not know if the intendee yar giv o dt sizee eth s accurately. Elevation Sites.—d greay an an t t Nonea height e ar : Hadyard (No. 10) is 1028 feet above the sea, but no other attains 1000 feet, and few come near it. The sites, as far as I have observed, are usually chosen for some defensible quality. But Lindston (No. 18) and Woodland (No. 19) are exceptions, being in nearly level fields. THE PREHISTORIC FORTS, ETC., OF AYRSHIRE. 405
Names.—Few of them have names, unless the vague one of Camp. Dun, however, survives in the Doune Camp and Knoll at Girvan (No. 21), Dounan near Turnberry (No. 29), Downan t Dunrea s e (So. 6), and Dinvin (No. 9); and two (Nos. 4, 22) bear the name of Dowhill. Interior.—Evidences of structure in the interior are rare; I have only observed them in Nos. .2, 6, 8, 17. Distribution.—The distribution of the forts differs entirely from that e motesoth fn placI .f bein o e g confine e southerth o t d e n th hal f o f county, they are almost entirely situated near the east coast. Including the " Castle Hill" near Largs, which I have ascertained to be a fort, the total number is thirty-one, and of these but one is far inland towards the eastern side of the county; the others are all within 7 miles of the west coast, twenty-six being within 5 miles, and nineteen within 3 miles of it. RECTILINEAR WORKS. The small half-rectangle, represented on the O.M. with an unfortified edgslope a baseth f t Earnweill o ea et a , , Symington apparentls i , e yth only rectilinear fort in the county, unless we accept the " Ramparts " at Knockdolian as another example. Both of these seem miraculously to have escaped being called Koman. The only so-called Roman Camp is in the eastern part of the county, near Loudoun a naturalt i Hillappeare O.Me t b th r bu ;n o o .t ,o s perhaps artificially scarped, plateau, wit ramparo hn trenchr o t . Another alleged Roman work is the " Trenches " at Tarbolton. Unfortunately I ,coul t examin these f dI no hopo t y ebu ;e an thae th t mention now made of them may lead to their being properly investigated, as they are no ordinary works.
CASTLE HILLS. It is possible that some of the numerous Castle Hills in Ayrshire may prove motesb o t e , others forts I hav. e onl themf 1 y o . seeo No , ntw near Largs, whic I hthin . s 2bee, kha No whic fort a nd an h; must always have been very ploughes smalli t bu , d away beyond recognition.