Peel of Lumphanan
Encyclopedia
The Peel of Lumphanan, also known as the Peel Ring or Peel Bog of Lumphanan, is a defensive structure dating back to the 13th century. It is located near Lumphanan
in Aberdeenshire
, north-east Scotland
.
The peel comprises a mound or motte
, surrounded by two concentric ditches separated by a bank. The outer earth bank is about 4 metres (13.1 ft) high, the inner ditch or moat
is 15 metres (49.2 ft) across, and the central mound measures 37 by. The outer ditch was described as shallow in 1960, and is now difficult to discern. On the top of the mound are the remains of a 1 metres (3.3 ft) thick wall, and the foundations of a house measuring around 15 by. The entrance was probably located to the west.
A motte on this site is thought to have been in existence at the time of the Battle of Lumphanan
. This battle was fought nearby in 1057, between King Macbeth
and the future King Malcolm III
. Macbeth was killed, and Macbeth's Stone, upon which he is said to have been beheaded, is located 300 metres (984.3 ft) to the south-west.
The present mound was constructed in the 13th century by the De Lundin family, who later adopted the name Durward from their hereditary position of royal ushers or door-wards. Sir John de Melville paid homage to Edward I of England
at the peel in 1296. The original ramparts may have been of turf rather than stone. The rectangular foundation is that of Halton House, which was built in the 15th century by Thomas Charteris of Kinfauns. The circular wall, originally thought to have been the curtain wall
of a shell keep
, was discovered through excavation in the 1970s to be of 18th-century date.
The site is under the guardianship of Historic Scotland
, and is protected as a scheduled monument. It is considered to be of national importance as "a good surviving example of an earthwork castle with water-filled outer defences."
Lumphanan
Lumphanan is a village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland located 25 miles from Aberdeen and 10 miles from Banchory. There is one pub in the village called "The MacBeth Arms", there is another bar located three miles from the village centre named "The Crossroads Hotel"...
in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, north-east Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
The peel comprises a mound or motte
Motte
Motte may be:*Motte-and-bailey, a type of construction used in castles*Isaac Motte, an 18th century American statesman*La Motte , various places with this name-See also:* Mote * Mott...
, surrounded by two concentric ditches separated by a bank. The outer earth bank is about 4 metres (13.1 ft) high, the inner ditch or moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
is 15 metres (49.2 ft) across, and the central mound measures 37 by. The outer ditch was described as shallow in 1960, and is now difficult to discern. On the top of the mound are the remains of a 1 metres (3.3 ft) thick wall, and the foundations of a house measuring around 15 by. The entrance was probably located to the west.
A motte on this site is thought to have been in existence at the time of the Battle of Lumphanan
Battle of Lumphanan
The Battle of Lumphanan was fought on 15 August 1057, between Macbeth, King of Scotland, and Máel Coluim mac Donnchada, the future King Malcolm III. Macbeth was killed, having drawn his retreating forces north to make a last stand. According to tradition, the battle took place near the Peel of...
. This battle was fought nearby in 1057, between King Macbeth
Macbeth of Scotland
Mac Bethad mac Findlaích was King of the Scots from 1040 until his death...
and the future King Malcolm III
Malcolm III of Scotland
Máel Coluim mac Donnchada , was King of Scots...
. Macbeth was killed, and Macbeth's Stone, upon which he is said to have been beheaded, is located 300 metres (984.3 ft) to the south-west.
The present mound was constructed in the 13th century by the De Lundin family, who later adopted the name Durward from their hereditary position of royal ushers or door-wards. Sir John de Melville paid homage to Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
at the peel in 1296. The original ramparts may have been of turf rather than stone. The rectangular foundation is that of Halton House, which was built in the 15th century by Thomas Charteris of Kinfauns. The circular wall, originally thought to have been the curtain wall
Curtain wall (fortification)
A curtain wall is a defensive wall between two bastions of a castle or fortress.In earlier designs of castle the curtain walls were often built to a considerable height and were fronted by a ditch or moat to make assault difficult....
of a shell keep
Shell keep
A shell keep is a style of medieval fortification, best described as a stone structure circling the top of a motte.In English castle morphology, shell keeps are perceived as the successors to motte-and-bailey castles, with the wooden fence around the top of the motte replaced by a stone wall...
, was discovered through excavation in the 1970s to be of 18th-century date.
The site is under the guardianship of Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland.-Role:As its website states:...
, and is protected as a scheduled monument. It is considered to be of national importance as "a good surviving example of an earthwork castle with water-filled outer defences."