Document record MAB61686 - BONNYTON

Site of a moated castle.

Site of a moated castle. According to antiquarian accounts, Bonnyton, which is said to have been surrounded by a ditch, belonged to the Wood family. The Castle fell down in 1785 and its foundation was visible in 1833 but had disappeared by circa 1860. The moat was also traceable in 1833. Two heraldic panels dated 1666, which is assumed to be the date of erection, are inserted into the farm buildings. The site of the castle and the remains of the moat are shown on both the OS 1st and 2nd edition maps (circa 1846 and circa 1888). When visited by the OS in 1958, no trace of either the castle or the moat were discovered. They concluded that the castle must have been situated a short distance northwest of the cottage at NO 6565 5588 where the ground is elevated. A hollow lay to the east of the cottage. On the west is a scarp 1.5-2.0 m high which continues round on the north for circa 75 m, decreasing in height. A modern drainage ditch runs at the base of this scarp on the north. There is no trace of bank or ditch on the northeast. On the southeast is an overgrown ditch 4.5 m wide and 0.5 m deep which may have been part of the original moat, but looks more like an old irrigation ditch, especially as this area is very low lying. On the south is a short stretch of scarp but no ditch.

Period Notes
Panels dated 1666.

Author unknown, 1791-9, Old Statistical Account, Vol 9, 399-400 (Bibliographic reference). SAB9594.

Author unknown, 1845, New Statistical Account, Vol 11, 116-17 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6302.

Warden, A J, 1880-5, Vol 4, 310-1 (Bibliographic reference). SAB10196.

RCAHMS, 1978, [Untitled], 30, no. 254 (Bibliographic reference). SAB7799.

WHITE, H, 2012, MONTROSE BASIN SURVEY 1999-2012 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2127.

Author unknown, n.d., Name Book, No68, 14 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6028.

Record last edited

Jun 11 2021 2:53PM