Mottte of Urr
On the River Urr,
north of Dalbeattie, Dumfries & Galloway.
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All images are © 400photos.uk
All images are © 400photos.uk
The Motte of Urr is a substantial motte and bailey fort built on the banks of the River Urr. The main platform is 170 by 102 metres
and the whole raised section covers over 14,000 square metres or three and a half acres in old money.
Dating from the 12th century and constructed by the Lords of Galloway it was in use principally until the 14th century when it was sacked during the local Galloway uprisings around the 1160s to 80s.
As you can see it had a central defensive wall surrounded by a large motte, which would have been topped by a wooden fence and with defensive ditches all round. Quite a substantial construction which seems to indicate a strong need for defence. Those were angry times.
The River Urr flows by the site (hence the name) but its present course will have changed over the intervening years. It would certainly have provided the water for the moat round the fort.
From its position, size and similarity to other sites it may well have been used from an earlier date but that has seemingly not yet been investigated, oddly. It makes sense that when building a castle any previous construction or platform would have been re-used, if only to save time and effort.
Access is well signposted, there's usable car parking space and a signpost and access gate down by the west of the ford and the locals are said to be friendly. The ford from the B794 east of the river is marked as very deep so maybe best to approach from the south-west.
These were all taken on a breezy day in late May with scudding clouds, rain showers and patches of mist blowing in off the Solway Firth. Not ideal conditions is what we're saying here.
Just downstream on the River Urr is the village of Palnackie and in the distance, also on the river and just visible in the third (vertical) photo, is Kippford, both photographed for this website.
Dating from the 12th century and constructed by the Lords of Galloway it was in use principally until the 14th century when it was sacked during the local Galloway uprisings around the 1160s to 80s.
As you can see it had a central defensive wall surrounded by a large motte, which would have been topped by a wooden fence and with defensive ditches all round. Quite a substantial construction which seems to indicate a strong need for defence. Those were angry times.
The River Urr flows by the site (hence the name) but its present course will have changed over the intervening years. It would certainly have provided the water for the moat round the fort.
From its position, size and similarity to other sites it may well have been used from an earlier date but that has seemingly not yet been investigated, oddly. It makes sense that when building a castle any previous construction or platform would have been re-used, if only to save time and effort.
Access is well signposted, there's usable car parking space and a signpost and access gate down by the west of the ford and the locals are said to be friendly. The ford from the B794 east of the river is marked as very deep so maybe best to approach from the south-west.
These were all taken on a breezy day in late May with scudding clouds, rain showers and patches of mist blowing in off the Solway Firth. Not ideal conditions is what we're saying here.
Just downstream on the River Urr is the village of Palnackie and in the distance, also on the river and just visible in the third (vertical) photo, is Kippford, both photographed for this website.
