Earthwork record MAB44648 - CASTLETON OF EASSIE
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Summary
Earthwork, the site of a castle likely to date from the 12th or 13th centuries AD.
Protected Status/Designation
- Scheduled Monument 3554
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NO 3330 4663 (169m by 165m) Centred at - Point |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NO34NW |
| Civil Parish | Eassie & Nevay |
| Authority | Angus |
Type and Period (6)
Full Description
A rectangular flat topped mound with its entrance causeway in the southeast, and with its two remaining sides bounded by a deep ditch. On the northeast, the ditch was broad, and 3.65 m to 4.27 m deep, with a 91 cm high internal rampart, but shallower to the southeast.
The mound measures 89 m by 67 m, the highest section at the southwest end. A house and garden are built on it in the southwest, while on the northwest, there is a steep scarp down to a stream, but no ditch. Some coins of Edward I and a spearhead have been found here. This earthwork is probably Medieval, but the ditch measures no less than 15.2 m wide, and would seem to be too substantial for a homestead moat. The earthwork probably represents a castle site, like Sir John de Graham's castle.
Today these remains are interpretted as those of a dry medieval 'castle' moat, as described by Christison (1900), except that the 'rampart' on the northeast is obviously the result of landscaping and the counterscarp on the northeast is mutilated by a modern footpath.
The impressive earthworks within which the farmhouse of Castleton of Eassie stands are probably the remains of a Medieval castle. It has also been suggested that the mound originated as a crannog. Roy's military map of Scotland depicts Castleton as a loch-side settlement. Castleton House Hotel () stands within the earthworks.
, (Photograph). SAB24980.
OSA, 1791-9, [Untitled], Vol. 16, 218-19 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9542.
NSA, 1845, [Untitled], Vol. 11, Forfar, 476 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6197.
Christison, D, 1900, Proc Soc Antiq Scot 34, 53 (Bibliographic reference). SAB8165.
Metcalf, D M, 1977, Brit Archaeol Rep Brit Ser 45, 34, No. 76 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6925.
RCAHMS, 1984, [Untitled], 12, No. 46 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9332.
Stell, G, 1985, [Untitled] (Bibliographic reference). SAB10324.
Carter, S, 1990, Discovery and Excavation, Scotland, 41 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10746.
STRATIGOS, M J, 2013, THE CRANNOGS OF NORTHEAST SCOTLAND: QUANTIFYING THE RESOURCE. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON MA DISSERTATION, 76-7 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1743.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ANG;
- HES Scheduled Monument Number: 3554;
- NMR Card Number: NO34NW5;
- NRHE Numlink: 32134;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NO34NW0005;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM3554 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/32134 (Castleton of Eassie trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (9)
- --- SAB10324 Bibliographic reference: Stell, G. 1985. [Untitled].
- --- SAB10746 Bibliographic reference: Carter, S. 1990. Discovery and Excavation, Scotland. 41.
- --- SAB1743 Bibliographic reference: STRATIGOS, M J. 2013. THE CRANNOGS OF NORTHEAST SCOTLAND: QUANTIFYING THE RESOURCE. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON MA DISSERTATION. 76-7.
- --- SAB24980 Photograph: . . .
- --- SAB6197 Bibliographic reference: NSA. 1845. [Untitled]. Vol. 11, Forfar, 476.
- --- SAB6925 Bibliographic reference: Metcalf, D M. 1977. Brit Archaeol Rep Brit Ser 45. 34, No. 76.
- --- SAB8165 Bibliographic reference: Christison, D. 1900. Proc Soc Antiq Scot 34. 53.
- --- SAB9332 Bibliographic reference: RCAHMS. 1984. [Untitled]. 12, No. 46.
- --- SAB9542 Bibliographic reference: OSA. 1791-9. [Untitled]. Vol. 16, 218-19.
Finds (2)
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Record last edited
May 26 2026 7:48PM
