Building record MAB38125 - PRAIL CASTLE

Remains of a promontory fort which is shown on the OS maps from the 1st edition OS map onwards.

Remains of a promontory fort which is shown on the OS maps from the 1st edition OS map onwards. The site is a long, narrow and spectacular promontory, bounded on three sides by precipitous cliffs. Traces of three ramparts and ditches are visible on the southern side, the corresponding features on the northern side are probably lost to erosion and landslide. In 1958 the OS surveyed the fort and recorded the defences. Their measurements begin at the landward side, where there was a short rocky scarp 2.5 m high, on the crest of which was a mutilated bank, 0.3 m high at the north and 1.0 m high on the south and running to the cliff edge on either side. A causeway 3.0 m wide and 0.3 m high ran from the foot of this scarp to a rampart 12.0 m distant. This rampart, 1.0 m high and 3.0 m broad, rose to 3.0 m at the southern cliff edge, making use of a natural ridge as it rises. The course of the northern part of this rampart was uncertain. A natural hollow, 6.0 m wide, south-west of this lead to another rampart 2.0 m high at its south end and 1.0 m high towards its northern limit. It was 4.0 m - 6.0 m broad and the northern part had been destroyed. At a point circa 14.0 m north of the causeway and at the cliff edge is what may be a fragment of bank, 6.0 m long and 1.0 m high - possibly the end of the medial bank. The 19th century antiquarian Cumming mentions, in addition to the ditch and rampart, 'the foundations of the tower and other buildings are visible'. A disturbed area circa 20.0 m by 18.0 m, to the east of the innermost rampart may denote the site of these buildings. Later usage is represented by two rectangular hollows, each 8.0 m x 5.0 m, at the extreme end of the promontory, the site of a WWII Home Guard post. Site visit during coastal zone assessment survey carried out by SCAPE between February and March 2009, noted that the remains of the ramparts survive up to 1 m high. The survey also recorded a circular indentation at the end of the promontory 4.5 m in diameter and 0.8 m in depth.

SCAPE, 03/2009, COASTAL ZONE ASSESSMENT SURVEY PART 2, p. 39 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4802.

Cumming, G, 1843, [Untitled], 73 (Bibliographic reference). SAB11811.

Carrie, J, 1881, [Untitled], 11 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5998.

RCAHMS, 1978, [Untitled], 16, No.97 (Bibliographic reference). SAB7717.

Wilson, E M, 1981, Proc Soc Antiq Scot 110, 114 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10309.

Jun 20 2002 , AAS/02/6/CT30-33, AAS/02/6/CT30-33 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB29441.

Jun 20 2002 , AAS/02/6/G16/9-12, AAS/02/6/G16/9-12 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB24907.

Record last edited

Sep 3 2024 10:37AM