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Upper Chatto is a deserted village and moated homestead located in Roxburghshire, Scotland. The site represents the remains of a former settlement that was abandoned at some point in its history, leaving behind the earthwork traces of domestic occupation and defensive works. The moated homestead at the centre of the complex indicates a settlement of some status, with the water-filled or wet ditch serving both practical and symbolic purposes characteristic of medieval rural hierarchy in the Borders region.
The monument sits upon bedrock formed during the Devonian period, comprising mafic lava and tuff that create the underlying geological foundation of this exposed borderland landscape. This volcanic geology is typical of the Southern Uplands terrain, contributing to the challenging environmental conditions that medieval and later communities had to negotiate when establishing permanent settlements in the area.
Upper Chatto is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM10750, recognising its significance as evidence of rural settlement patterns and social organisation in the Scottish Borders. The survival of both village earthworks and the moated homestead provides archaeological and landscape-historical insight into how communities organised their domestic and defensive spaces in this strategically sensitive region.
Upper Chatto, deserted village and moated homestead is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM10750. View the official record →
Upper Chatto is a deserted village and moated homestead located in Roxburghshire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM10750.
Upper Chatto, deserted village and moated homestead 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 SM10750.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Blackhall Hill,cairns (5.8 km), Heugh Law, fort (5.9 km), Hindhope Hill,fort (6.1 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Upper Chatto, deserted village and moated homestead'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.
Upper Chatto, deserted village and moated homestead stands on Unnamed Extrusive Rocks, Silurian To Devonian, bedrock that formed in the Devonian. The rock here is mafic lava and mafic tuff.