Earthwork record MAB44437 - LITTLE BASS, INVERURIE
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Summary
Remains of the Little Bass of Inverurie, the bailey of a 12th Century motte and bailey Castle (see NJ72SE0013 for details of the motte).
Protected Status/Designation
- Scheduled Monument 99: The Bass and Little Bass, motte and bailey castle
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 7813 2060 (47m by 49m) Centred at - Polygon: Unknown Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ72SE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Insch |
Type and Period (3)
Full Description
Remains of the Little Bass of Inverurie, the bailey of a 12th Century motte and bailey Castle (see NJ72SE0013 for details of the motte). It was originally attached to the motte prior to landscaping and alterations in the churchyard in 1883. Both are now separate ornamental features within the cemetery with trees growing on the bailey. The bailey is a flat-topped, oval mound measuring circa 30 m east to west by circa 23 m north to south and stands to a height of circa 5 m. On the bailey are two slightly raised rectangular platforms one measuring circa 17 m by 9.5 m, the other circa 11 m by 9.5 m. They are potentially the remains of buildings. The frequent discovery of flint implements, cores and flakes all around the Norman castle suggests a Neolithic occupation of the site, and a fine polished stone adze' suggests a Bronze Age occupation.
DAVIDSON, J, 1884, BASS OF INVERURIE, 3-4,7,15,17 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2398.
SIMPSON, WD, 1924, SNQ,AUG 1924,120-1, 39-42 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1647.
SIMPSON, WD, 1943, PROVINCE OF MAR, 128 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1676.
BOGDAN, N, 2008, EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE (Bibliographic reference). SAB3811.
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.
Jan 28 1997 , AAS/97/02/CT8-12, AAS/97/02/CT8-12 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16228.
Jul 15 1959 , XD 15, XD 15 (Air-oblique Photograph). SAB16227.
Jul 29 2014 , AAS-GR-14-07-052 - 054, AAS-GR-14-07-052 - 054 (Ground Photograph). SAB13551.
Oct 5 2005 , AAS-GR-05-10-007, AAS-GR-05-10-007 (Ground Photograph). SAB36123.
Oct 7 2024 , AAS-GR-24-10-055, 056, AAS-GR-24-10-055, 056 (Ground Photograph). SAB36904.
Oct 9 2014 , AAS-GR-14-10-021, 021, AAS-GR-14-10-021, 021 (Ground Photograph). SAB13554.
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: NJ72SE0127;
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 (12)
- --- SAB13551 Ground Photograph: Jul 29 2014 . AAS-GR-14-07-052 - 054. Digital. AAS-GR-14-07-052 - 054.
- --- SAB13554 Ground Photograph: Oct 9 2014 . AAS-GR-14-10-021, 021. Digital. AAS-GR-14-10-021, 021.
- --- SAB16227 Air-oblique Photograph: Jul 15 1959 . XD 15. Black & White. XD 15.
- --- SAB16228 Air-oblique Photograph: Jan 28 1997 . AAS/97/02/CT8-12. Colour Transparency. AAS/97/02/CT8-12.
- --- 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.
- --- SAB2398 Bibliographic reference: DAVIDSON, J. 1884. BASS OF INVERURIE. 3-4,7,15,17.
- --- SAB36123 Ground Photograph: Oct 5 2005 . AAS-GR-05-10-007. Digital. AAS-GR-05-10-007.
- --- SAB36904 Ground Photograph: Oct 7 2024 . AAS-GR-24-10-055, 056. Digital. AAS-GR-24-10-055, 056.
- --- SAB3811 Bibliographic reference: BOGDAN, N. 2008. EARLY CASTLES OF ABERDEENSHIRE.
- --- SAB7700 Bibliographic reference: MARSHALL, B. 2025. THE BASE OF INVERURIE: A VISUAL INTERPRETATION OF INVERURIE CASTLE.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (2)
Record last edited
Mar 26 2026 3:48PM
