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Polmaddy is a medieval and post-medieval settlement located in Kirkcudbrightshire, south-western Scotland. The site lies upon bedrock of the Portpatrick and Glenwhargen Formations, Ordovician wackes that underlie much of this region of the Southern Uplands. These hard sedimentary rocks would have presented substantial challenges to inhabitants requiring stone for building or field clearance, shaping the practical constraints of settlement here.
The settlement spans both the medieval and post-medieval periods, indicating continuous or renewed occupation across these centuries. Such dual-period sites reflect the transition from feudal to early modern land use and social structures, a transformation visible across rural Scotland. The landscape setting and geological foundation would have influenced both the location of buildings and the subsistence strategies available to residents.
Polmaddy is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5391, recognising its significance to understanding rural settlement patterns and land use history in south-western Scotland. The site contributes to knowledge of how communities adapted to upland Kirkcudbrightshire's terrain and resources across the medieval and early modern periods.
Polmaddy,medieval and post-medieval settlement is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5391. View the official record →
Polmaddy is a medieval and post-medieval settlement located in Kirkcudbrightshire, south-western Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM5391.
Polmaddy,medieval and post-medieval settlement dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a medieval and post-medieval settlement. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Polmaddy,medieval and post-medieval settlement 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 SM5391.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Dundeugh Castle (1.1 km), Braidenoch Hill,cross slabs (3.6 km), Earlston Castle (4.4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Polmaddy,medieval and post-medieval settlement'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.
Polmaddy,medieval and post-medieval settlement stands on Portpatrick Formation And Glenwhargen Formation (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Caradocian. The rock here is wacke.