Ladyhill is a late 11th or early 12th century earthwork motte and bailey fortress, which was mentioned in a 1160 charter of King Malcolm IV. Built from a natural hillock, a north-western finger of raised ground projects from the lower slopes to form a possible bailey. In 1296 and 1303 during the Wars of Independence, King Edward I occupied the castle, which was taken and destroyed by the Scots in 1308.
Never rebuilt, the motte is crowned by the remnant of eastern wall cores, which may represent the remains of a tower or the Chapel of Our Lady. The castle was defended by scarping or terracing to the natural slope and an outer northern stone-based earthen rampart, with a timber revetment or palisade to the fore. The building of a demolished Observatory and the 1839 memorial column to George, 5th Duke of Gordon has considerably mutilated the summit with hollows. Wall footings on the southern and eastern slopes, are probably the remains of 19th century revetments
- Visitor Access, Directions & Contacts
- Features & Designations
Designations
- Key Information
Open to the public
Yes