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Keir Knowe of Drum is a medieval motte situated in Stirlingshire, Scotland. The monument consists of an artificially raised earthwork typical of Norman and early medieval fortifications, constructed to command the surrounding landscape. Built upon bedrock of the Strathmore Group, a formation of Emsian sandstone interstratified with conglomerate, siltstone and mudstone, the motte's foundation benefits from relatively stable geological conditions that supported its durability over centuries.
The site represents the form of castle that became prevalent across Scotland from the twelfth century onwards. The mound would originally have supported a timber palisade and defensive structures at its summit, with a bailey or fortified enclosure at its base. Such earthwork fortifications were quick to construct and effective for controlling routes and settlements across the region's undulating terrain.
Keir Knowe of Drum is protected as a scheduled monument under Historic Environment Scotland's designation SM1733, ensuring its preservation as evidence of medieval settlement patterns and military strategy in central Scotland. The monument survives as a tangible record of the feudal landscape that shaped medieval Stirlingshire.
Keir Knowe of Drum,motte is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1733. View the official record →
Keir Knowe of Drum is a medieval motte situated in Stirlingshire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM1733.
Keir Knowe of Drum,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.
Keir Knowe of Drum,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 SM1733.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Stronend, cairn 300m SSW of summit, Gargunnock Hills (6.2 km), Harvieston,deserted village E of (7 km), Double Craigs,hut circle (7.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Keir Knowe of Drum,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.
Keir Knowe of Drum,motte stands on Strathmore Group, bedrock that formed in the Emsian. The rock here is sandstone with subordinate conglomerate, siltstone and mudstone.