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Balgreggan motte is a medieval fortified earthwork located in Wigtownshire, south-west Scotland. The monument consists of a substantial mound, typical of motte-and-bailey fortifications that were constructed across Britain and northern France in the medieval period. Such structures served as defensive strongholds and symbols of authority, with the motte providing a raised platform for a timber or stone tower overlooking the surrounding landscape.
The motte at Balgreggan sits upon bedrock of the Gala Group, a formation of hard wacke sandstones and siltstones laid down during the Telychian period of the Silurian era, some 430 million years ago. This solid geological foundation would have provided a stable base for construction, whilst the local stone could have supplied material for building or reinforcement of the earthwork's defences.
The monument is protected and managed by Historic Environment Scotland as a scheduled monument under reference SM2305, recognising its significance as evidence of the region's medieval settlement patterns and feudal structures. Mottes of this type, found throughout south-west Scotland, illuminate the exercise of power and control during the medieval period and remain important archaeological records of Wigtownshire's early medieval history.
Balgreggan,motte is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2305. View the official record →
Balgreggan motte is a medieval fortified earthwork located in Wigtownshire, south-west Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2305.
Balgreggan,motte dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a motte. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Balgreggan,motte 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 SM2305.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Kirkmadrine, site of Kirkmadrine Church (2.7 km), Craigencroy,cairn 270m SSE of West Ringuinea (4.2 km), Float Bay,fort SE of (4.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Balgreggan,motte'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.
Balgreggan,motte stands on Gala Group, bedrock that formed in the Telychian. The rock here is wacke.