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Carnwath motte


Carnwath motte is a well preserved example of an early castle site, which now stands on part of Carnwath Golf Club.

The motte was built by the Somerville family, who came to this area of Lanarkshire in the 12th century. The Somervilles in Scotland were descended from Sir Gualter de Somerville, a Norman knight who arrived in England with William the Conqueror in 1066. Sir Gualter’s second son, William de Somerville, travelled to Scotland with David I in 1107, and some time after was granted the lands of Carnwath along with the title Lord Carnwath.

It is a substantial motte, some 9.0m in height, with a basal diameter of 40.0m narrowing to 9.5m at the top. The motte was probably built to defend an old ford that was once the only crossing of the Carnwath Burn. Originally it was surrounded by a deep ditch and an earthen rampart. Today the ditch is relatively shallow, and traces of the rampart can still be seen on the south-east side.

There are a couple of legends regarding the construction of the motte – one has it that it was created by packing earth around a central stone tower, while the other states that access to the top of the motte was via a tunnel and staircase within the motte itself. This second story is recounted in the Statistical Account of Scotland:

There is an opening on the top which has been the entrance of a rude turnpike sort of stair, that once reached to the bottom, but is at present filled up with stones and rubbish thrown in from time to time by young and idle people.

The Parish of Carnwath, by the Reverend Mr George Mark
The Statistical Account of Scotland, 1791 – 1799

In 1174 a later William de Somerville, grandson of the original William, was granted the lands of Linton in Roxburghshire by William the Lion, supposedly for killing a great serpent in the area.

Like many mottes, Carnwath probably fell out of use in the 13th or 14th centuries, and the Somervilles moved to one of their other properties, Couthalley Castle. Not far from Carnwath motte, it dates back to the 12th century and was rebuilt in 1375, which ties in nicely with the likely end of the motte’s useful life.

Close to the motte, under the present clubhouse, is the site of Carnwath House which is thought to have dated back to at least the 16th century and possibly earlier. Since Couthalley Castle was besieged and partially destroyed in 1557, it may be that it was at this time that Carnwath House was built.

In the 16th century the family’s attentions seemed to have move east, with Hugh Somerville, the 7th Lord Somerville, building a large tower house at Drum, just outside Edinburgh, in 1585.

He was succeeded by his brother, Gilbert, the 8th Lord, who is said to have entertained James VI with such extravagance at Couthalley Castle that he was forced to sell the Carnwath estates in 1603 to John Erskine, the 19th Earl of Mar.

The Earl of Mar subsequently sold the estate to Sir Robert Dalzell (later to become Lord Dalzell) in 1630. His son, also Robert, the 2nd Lord Dalzell, was created the 1st Earl of Carnwath in 1639.

In 1681 the Carnwath estate was sold to Sir George Lockhart, Lord Advocate and the second son Sir James Lockhart of Lee. The estate passed through the Lockhart family to Sir Simon Macdonald Lockhart of Lee, 5th Baronet.

In 1907 Carnwath Golf Club was founded on the estate and opened by Sir Simon’s wife Lady Lockhart on the 19th of June. Sir Simon became Honorary President of the club until his death in 1919. I believe that the land may still be owned by the Macdonald Lockharts via the Lee and Carnwath Estates. The motte stands just behind the first green.

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Alternative names for Carnwath motte

Moit de Carnewath; The Moat

Where is Carnwath motte?

Carnwath motte is in the parish of Carnwath and the county of Lanarkshire.

Grid reference:NS 97466 46626

Lat / long:55.70220600,-3.63309520

Bing Maps | Google Maps | Historic maps (NLS) | OpenStreetMap | Ordnance Survey | PastMap | Streetmap | Wikimapia

OS Map for Carnwath motte

OS map 343
Motherwell & Coatbridge (Whitburn & Carluke)
OS Explorer map 343


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Directions to Carnwath motte

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Weather at Carnwath motte

6°C
max 7°C / min 4°C
17km/h NE
1014mb
77%
100%
05:46 18:50

Overcast clouds
Weather observed at Carnwath at 13:45

References (books)

Power and Identity in the Middle Ages
Huw Pryce
Oxford, 2007
Statistical Account of Scotland
Various
Edinburgh, 1799

References (websites)

Canmore
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Castles near Carnwath motte

Carnwath House (site of)

0.2km away

Couthalley Castle

1.6km away

Carlindean (possible) (site of)

1.7km away

Spittal (possible) (site of)

2.1km away

Carnwath Mill

2.6km away

Kersewell (site of)

3.4km away

Muirhouse of Libberton (site of)

3.4km away

Carstairs Castle (site of)

3.5km away

Eastshield Tower

3.7km away
more castles....

Ancient sites near Carnwath motte

Calla broch

2.8km away

Wester Yardhouses souterrain

5.1km away

Kirk Hill (possible) fort

8.1km away

Quothquan Law fort

8.3km away

West Lindsaylands cursus

11.0km away

Harestanes stone circle

15.2km away

Whitslade souterrain

18.5km away

Harehill Knowe cairn

18.6km away

Drumelzier Haugh souterrain

19.9km away
more ancient sites....

Pictish stones near Carnwath motte

Princes Street Gardens Class I symbol stone

38.5km away

Abernethy No. 2 Class III symbol stone

38.9km away

Abernethy No. 4 Class III cross shaft

38.9km away

Hawkhill Class III cross-slab

46.6km away

Tullibole Class III cross slab

54.7km away

Borthwick Mains Class I symbol stone

56.3km away

Old Kilmadock 2 Class I symbol stone

61.9km away

Old Kilmadock 1 Class II symbol stone

61.9km away

Court Cave Class I rock carving

62.4km away
more Pictish stones....
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Pictish sites near Carnwath motte

Todholes (possible) silver chain

6.4km away

Borland silver chain

8.7km away

Whitecleugh silver chain

31.3km away

Whitlaw silver chain

52.3km away

Haddington silver chain

60.4km away

Traprain Law silver chain

67.1km away

Norrie's Law hoard

74.7km away

Hoardweel silver chain

82.4km away

Dunnicaer fort

165.7km away
more Pictish sites....
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Accommodation near Carnwath motte

Shieldhill Castle Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barBiggar
7.0km away
New Lanark Mill Hotel
hotelLanark
10.2km away
New Lanark SYHA Hostel
hostelLanark
10.3km away
Best Western Cartland Bridge Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLanark
10.6km away
Tinto House Hotel
hotel, restaurantBiggar
11.0km away
Toftcombs Mansion House
self-cateringBiggar
11.0km away
Elphinstone Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantBiggar
11.1km away
Herdshill Guest House
bed and breakfastWishaw
16.6km away
Best Western Hilcroft Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barWhitburn
18.5km away
Drochil Castle Farmhouse
bed and breakfastWest Linton
19.0km away

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more accommodation....

Cafés, restaurants & bars near Carnwath motte

Shieldhill Castle Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barBiggar
7.0km away
Carmichael Visitor Centre and Farm Shop
caféCarmichael
8.2km away
Best Western Cartland Bridge Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barLanark
10.6km away
Tinto House Hotel
hotel, restaurantBiggar
11.0km away
Elphinstone Hotel
hotel, bar, restaurantBiggar
11.1km away
Best Western Hilcroft Hotel
hotel, restaurant, barWhitburn
18.5km away
Premier Inn Livingston (Bathgate)
hotel, restaurantLivingston
21.6km away
Whitmuir The Organic Place
café, restaurantWest Linton
22.1km away
Stobo Castle
hotel, restaurantStobo
22.1km away
Dawyck Café
caféStobo
22.4km away
more food.... / more drink....

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Published on the 17th of February 2012 at 11:11 pm. Updated on the 4th of October 2020 at 1:11 pm.

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Andy Sweet above Fast Castle

Stravaiging around Scotland is written, photographed and researched by Andy Sweet.
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