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Hutton Mote is a medieval motte situated in Dumfriesshire, south-western Scotland. The earthwork rises from bedrock of the Hawick Group, a formation of wacke dating to the Wenlock period of the Silurian, which provides a naturally stone-rich foundation typical of the region's landscape. The motte's construction would have exploited the underlying geology, with local stone available for reinforcement and rampart building. This site represents a form of elite residence and stronghold common throughout medieval Britain and particularly prevalent in the borderlands between England and Scotland during the 11th to 14th centuries.
The motte itself consists of an artificial earthen mound, characteristic of the motte-and-bailey fortification type that dominated early medieval defensive architecture. Such structures served dual purposes as both domestic and military installations for local lords and their households. The site is protected by Historic Environment Scotland, reflecting its significance within the archaeological record of medieval Dumfriesshire.
Hutton Mote survives as a testament to the settlement patterns and social hierarchies of medieval south-western Scotland, where prominent families established fortified residences to control local territories and trade routes across the borderlands.
Hutton Mote, motte is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1. View the official record →
Hutton Mote is a medieval motte situated in Dumfriesshire, south-western Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1.
Hutton Mote, 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.
Hutton Mote, 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 SM1.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Corrie Church, church and graveyard (6.1 km), The Hass, settlement 550m E of, Quhytewoollen Hill (6.6 km), Pyatshaws Rig, settlement 965m NE of Meikle Whitriggs (7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Hutton Mote, 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.
Hutton Mote, motte stands on Hawick Group, bedrock that formed in the Wenlock. The rock here is wacke.