Earthwork record MAB44434 - BASS OF INVERURIE

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Summary

Remains of a motte and bailey castle, dating from the 12th Century.

Protected Status/Designation

Scheduled Monument 99

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Location

Grid reference	Centred NJ 7809 2059 (58m by 57m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent
Map sheet	NJ72SE
Authority	Aberdeenshire
Civil Parish	Inverurie

Type and Period (4)

Full Description

Remains of a motte and bailey castle, dating from the 12th Century. The bass is a natural mound which was converted to a motte by the scarping of its sides and the excavation of a ditch around it which is now infilled. The bailey lies to the east (NJ72SE0127), known as the Little Bass. The motte and bailey were originally joined, but landscaping work in 1883 cut a path between the two, as well as levelling the top of the motte. The motte now stands in the middle of a cemetery (NJ72SE0211). The original dimensions of the ditch surrounding the motte were revealed during grave-digging. The mound is currently circa 12 m in height and circa 18 m in diameter across its top. During excavations in the 19th Century the remains of an oaken gangway up the south face of the motte were discovered. Worked flints have been found around the base of the motte and also a cushion macehead and an adze. Pieces of a 14th Century face mask jug were found in the ditch during grave digging. The hereditary constables of Inverurie during the 12th - 13th Centuries were the De Lesselyn (Leslie) family. The castle appears to have been the administrative centre for the Garioch area in the 12th and 13th Centuries.

DAVIDSON, J, 1884, BASS OF INVERURIE, 3-4,7,15,17 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2398.

CURLE, AO, 1919, NOTES ON A POTTERY MASK AND SHERDS OF MEDIEVAL POTTERY FOUND AT THE BASS OF INVERURIE. PSAS 53(1918-19) 46-51, PSAS 53, 46-51 (Bibliographic reference). SAB252.

DONATIONS & PURCHASES, 1919, PSAS 53(1918-19), 10 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2399.

SIMPSON, WD, 1924, SNQ,AUG 1924,120-1, 39-42 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1647.

SIMPSON, WD, 1943, PROVINCE OF MAR, 128 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1676.

MOW, 1962, A.M'S SCOT., 8 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1204.

MARREN, P, 1990, GRAMPIAN BATTLEFIELDS, p.72 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4619.

GARIOCH HERITAGE SOCIETY, 1991, A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE GARIOCH, P.22 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2608.

BOGDAN, N, 2008, EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE (Bibliographic reference). SAB3811.

DRANSART, P, 2008, PROSPECT AND EXCAVATION OF MOATED SITES, p.122 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4035.

SINCLAIR KNIGHT MERZ (SKM), 2013, AN APPRAISAL OF POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF PROPOSED INVERURIE BYPASS ON KEITH HALL DESIGNED LANDSCAPE AND OTHER CULT HERIT FEATURES (Bibliographic reference). SAB1742.

MARSHALL, B, 2025, THE BASE OF INVERURIE: A VISUAL INTERPRETATION OF INVERURIE CASTLE (Bibliographic reference). SAB7700.

Aug 3 1988 , AAS/88/07/S14/4,5, AAS/88/07/S14/4,5 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14224.

Aug 8 1984 , BO 29-33, BO 29-33 (Ground Photograph). SAB14227.

Aug 8 1984 , BP 11-13, 20-21, BP 11-13, 20-21 (Ground Photograph). SAB14228.

Aug 13 1979 , AAS/79/07/R8/6, AAS/79/07/R8/6 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14225.

Jan 28 1997 , AA/97/02/CT8-12, AA/97/02/CT8-12 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB17611.

Jul 8 1988 , AAS/88/04/S13/26, AAS/88/04/S13/26 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14223.

Jul 15 1958 , XD 15, XD 15 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14226.

Jul 18 2006 , AAS/06/2/CT20, AAS/06/2/CT20 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB19269.

Jul 18 2006 , AAS/06/2/DG176, AAS/06/2/DG176 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB18631.

Jun 29 2010 , AAS/2010/2/DG1724, AAS/2010/2/DG1724 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13020.

Mar 1 2011 , AAS/2011/2/DG3465-7, AAS/2011/2/DG3465-7 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB13192.

May 4 2005 , E 63687 CN, E 63687 CN (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB20200.

Author unknown, n.d., EVENING EXPRESS, 24/03/88 (Bibliographic reference). SAB446.

ADZE, MACEHEAD

Nov 1 2005 , DP 011660-4, DP 011660-4 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB20199.

Oct 5 2005 , AAS-GR-05-10-001 to 006, AAS-GR-05-10-001 to 006 (Ground Photograph). SAB36122.

Oct 7 2024 , AAS-GR-24-10-048 - 054, AAS-GR-24-10-048 - 054 (Ground Photograph). SAB36903.

Oct 9 2014 , AAS-GR-14-10-002, AAS-GR-14-10-002 (Ground Photograph). SAB13552.

Oct 27 1993 , AAS/93/14/G27/1-3,13-7, AAS/93/14/G27/1-3,13-7 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB14728.

Sep 7 2005 , AAS-GR-14-06-053 - 060, AAS-GR-14-06-053 - 060 (Ground Photograph). SAB13537.

Sep 14 1989 , JK 18, JK 18 (Ground Photograph). SAB33727.

Other Statuses/References

Authority: ASH;
HAMP Asset: HA0080;
HES Scheduled Monument Number: 99;
Local Government Guardianship;
NMR Card Number: NJ72SE13;
NRHE Numlink: 18883;
Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ72SE0013;

External Links (2)

https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM99 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
https://www.trove.scot/place/18883 (trove.scot link)

Sources/Archives (33)

--- SAB1204 Bibliographic reference: MOW. 1962. A.M'S SCOT.. 8.
--- SAB13020 Air-oblique Photograph: Jun 29 2010 . AAS/2010/2/DG1724. Digital. AAS/2010/2/DG1724.
--- SAB13192 Air-oblique Photograph: Mar 1 2011 . AAS/2011/2/DG3465-7. Digital. AAS/2011/2/DG3465-7.
--- SAB13537 Ground Photograph: Sep 7 2005 . AAS-GR-14-06-053 - 060. Digital. AAS-GR-14-06-053 - 060.
--- SAB13552 Ground Photograph: Oct 9 2014 . AAS-GR-14-10-002. Digital. AAS-GR-14-10-002.
--- SAB14223 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 8 1988 . AAS/88/04/S13/26. Black & White. AAS/88/04/S13/26.
--- SAB14224 Air-oblique Photograph: Aug 3 1988 . AAS/88/07/S14/4,5. Black & White. AAS/88/07/S14/4,5.
--- SAB14225 Air-oblique Photograph: Aug 13 1979 . AAS/79/07/R8/6. Black & White. AAS/79/07/R8/6.
--- SAB14226 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 15 1958 . XD 15. Black & White. XD 15.
--- SAB14227 Ground Photograph: Aug 8 1984 . BO 29-33. Black & White. BO 29-33.
--- SAB14228 Ground Photograph: Aug 8 1984 . BP 11-13, 20-21. Black & White. BP 11-13, 20-21.
--- SAB14728 Air-oblique Photograph: Oct 27 1993 . AAS/93/14/G27/1-3,13-7. Black & White. AAS/93/14/G27/1-3,13-7.
--- SAB1647 Bibliographic reference: SIMPSON, WD. 1924. SNQ,AUG 1924,120-1. 39-42.
--- SAB1676 Bibliographic reference: SIMPSON, WD. 1943. PROVINCE OF MAR. 128.
--- SAB1742 Bibliographic reference: SINCLAIR KNIGHT MERZ (SKM). 2013. AN APPRAISAL OF POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF PROPOSED INVERURIE BYPASS ON KEITH HALL DESIGNED LANDSCAPE AND OTHER CULT HERIT FEATURES.
--- SAB1742 Bibliographic reference: SINCLAIR KNIGHT MERZ (SKM). 2013. AN APPRAISAL OF POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF PROPOSED INVERURIE BYPASS ON KEITH HALL DESIGNED LANDSCAPE AND OTHER CULT HERIT FEATURES.
--- SAB17611 Air-oblique Photograph: Jan 28 1997 . AA/97/02/CT8-12. Colour Transparency. AA/97/02/CT8-12.
--- SAB18631 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 18 2006 . AAS/06/2/DG176. DG. AAS/06/2/DG176.
--- SAB19269 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 18 2006 . AAS/06/2/CT20. Colour Transparency. AAS/06/2/CT20.
--- SAB20199 Air-oblique Photograph: Nov 1 2005 . DP 011660-4. Digital. DP 011660-4.
--- SAB20200 Air-oblique Photograph: May 4 2005 . E 63687 CN. Digital. E 63687 CN.
--- SAB2398 Bibliographic reference: DAVIDSON, J. 1884. BASS OF INVERURIE. 3-4,7,15,17.
--- SAB2399 Bibliographic reference: DONATIONS & PURCHASES. 1919. PSAS 53(1918-19). 10.
--- SAB252 Bibliographic reference: CURLE, AO. 1919. NOTES ON A POTTERY MASK AND SHERDS OF MEDIEVAL POTTERY FOUND AT THE BASS OF INVERURIE. PSAS 53(1918-19) 46-51. PSAS 53, 46-51.
--- SAB2608 Bibliographic reference: GARIOCH HERITAGE SOCIETY. 1991. A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE GARIOCH. P.22.
--- SAB33727 Ground Photograph: Sep 14 1989 . JK 18. Black & White. JK 18.
--- SAB36122 Ground Photograph: Oct 5 2005 . AAS-GR-05-10-001 to 006. Digital. AAS-GR-05-10-001 to 006.
--- SAB36903 Ground Photograph: Oct 7 2024 . AAS-GR-24-10-048 - 054. Digital. AAS-GR-24-10-048 - 054.
--- SAB3811 Bibliographic reference: BOGDAN, N. 2008. EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE.
--- SAB4035 Bibliographic reference: DRANSART, P. 2008. PROSPECT AND EXCAVATION OF MOATED SITES. p.122.
--- SAB446 Bibliographic reference: Author unknown. n.d.. EVENING EXPRESS. 24/03/88.
--- SAB4619 Bibliographic reference: MARREN, P. 1990. GRAMPIAN BATTLEFIELDS. N. N. p.72.
--- SAB7700 Bibliographic reference: MARSHALL, B. 2025. THE BASE OF INVERURIE: A VISUAL INTERPRETATION OF INVERURIE CASTLE.