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Riddell is a medieval motte and bailey situated some 600 metres north-east of the village of Riddell in Roxburghshire, Scottish Borders. The monument comprises two earthen defensive works typical of Norman and post-Conquest fortifications constructed across Britain and beyond from the eleventh century onwards. The site stands on bedrock of the Hawick Group, a formation of hard wacke deposited during the Wenlock period of the Silurian era, which would have provided stable ground for the construction of its substantial earthworks.
The motte, a raised mound serving as a strongpoint, is accompanied by a bailey, or outer enclosure, arranged to defend and provide ancillary space within the fortification. This two-part design was a common and efficient response to medieval defensive requirements, particularly suited to rapid construction with limited resources. The prominent topography of Roxburghshire, with its river valleys and rolling terrain, made such elevated positions strategically valuable for controlling local routes and territories.
The monument is protected by Historic Environment Scotland under scheduling reference SM2130, recognising its significance as a surviving example of early medieval military architecture in the Scottish Borders. Such earthwork castles are increasingly rare in an intact state, making Riddell an important record of the region's feudal settlement and the consolidation of Norman influence in southern Scotland.
Riddell, motte and bailey 600m NE of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2130. View the official record →
Riddell is a medieval motte and bailey situated some 600 metres north-east of the village of Riddell in Roxburghshire, Scottish Borders. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM2130.
Riddell, motte and bailey 600m NE of dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a motte and bailey. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Riddell, motte and bailey 600m NE of 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 SM2130.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Clerklands,fort (2.2 km), North Synton,fort (3.9 km), New Greenhill,fort (4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Riddell, motte and bailey 600m NE of'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.
Riddell, motte and bailey 600m NE of stands on Hawick Group, bedrock that formed in the Wenlock. The rock here is wacke.