© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland
Abington Motte and Bailey is a medieval motte and bailey castle situated 1600 metres north of Abington in Lanarkshire. The monument consists of the characteristic earthwork elements typical of the motte and bailey form: a steep-sided mound, the motte, surmounted by a now-flattened summit that would have supported timber or stone structures, and an adjoining lower courtyard or bailey. The site rests on bedrock of the Kirkcolm Formation, a wacke deposited during the Caradocian period, which would have provided a firm foundation for the substantial earthworks. Such fortifications were common throughout medieval Scotland, particularly during the 12th to 14th centuries, functioning as strongholds for local lords and administrative centres.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument under reference SM2609, reflecting its importance to understanding medieval settlement and defence in South Lanarkshire. The construction of motte and bailey castles represented an efficient use of local materials and labour, with the characteristic mound serving both defensive and symbolic purposes. The site's survival demonstrates the durability of earthwork fortifications in the Scottish landscape.
Abington,motte & bailey 1600m N of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2609. View the official record →
Abington Motte and Bailey is a medieval motte and bailey castle situated 1600 metres north of Abington in Lanarkshire. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2609.
Abington,motte & bailey 1600m N of dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a motte & bailey. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Abington,motte & bailey 1600m N of is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM2609.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Collins Burn,enclosure 750m NW of Elvanfoot Bridge (6.6 km), Waterhead,platform settlement 900m N of (7.4 km), North Shortcleuch,platform settlement 1000m E of (7.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Abington,motte & bailey 1600m N of's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Abington,motte & bailey 1600m N of stands on Kirkcolm Formation, bedrock that formed in the Caradocian. The rock here is wacke.