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Lawhead Hill is a post-medieval palisaded enclosure situated 400 metres north-east of West Mains in East Lothian, Scotland. The monument occupies a defensible position on volcanic bedrock of Dinantian age, comprising mafic lava and mafic tuff that would have provided a naturally elevated foundation for the enclosure's construction. This hard, dark stone contributed to the landscape's distinctive character in this part of East Lothian.
Palisaded enclosures of the post-medieval period typically served as temporary military fortifications or stock enclosures, often erected during periods of border instability or agricultural reorganisation. The choice of this particular hilltop location reflects practical considerations common to such structures: commanding views of surrounding terrain and natural defensive advantages afforded by the underlying geology.
The enclosure is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5996, reflecting its significance within the broader understanding of post-medieval settlement and land use patterns in East Lothian. Such enclosures contribute important evidence for understanding the region's social and economic organisation during the centuries following the medieval period.
Lawhead Hill,palisaded enclosure 400m NE of West Mains is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5996. View the official record →
Lawhead Hill is a post-medieval palisaded enclosure situated 400 metres north-east of West Mains in East Lothian, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5996.
Lawhead Hill,palisaded enclosure 400m NE of West Mains dates from the post-medieval period, and is classified as a palisaded enclosure 400m ne of west mains. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Lawhead Hill,palisaded enclosure 400m NE of West Mains 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 SM5996.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Park,fort 900m SSE of (7.5 km), Quarryford House,enclosures,souterrain and pit alignment SW of (7.9 km), Longyester,palisaded enclosures and pit alignments 600m SE of (8.2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Lawhead Hill,palisaded enclosure 400m NE of West Mains'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.
Lawhead Hill,palisaded enclosure 400m NE of West Mains stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Dinantian, bedrock that formed in the Mississippian. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.