Pitfoddel's Castle

Heritage listing

Date Added 29/10/1975 Last Date Amended 08/12/2000 Type Secular: motte Local Authority Aberdeen Parish Peterculter NGR NJ 91035 02973 Coordinates 391035, 802973 — The monument comprises the remains of a medieval motte and bailey castle, which controlled a nearby ford across the River Dee. The monument was first scheduled in 1975, but subsequent development of Norwood Hall Hotel, immediately adjacent, has necessitated the present re-scheduling. The motte, known as Castleheugh, comprises an irregular oval mound c.40m long by 25m wide, with regularly scarped sides. This is surmounted by a smaller mound with an artificial level top measuring 7m by 3m. The site as a whole stands to a maximum height of c.4.5m. The ground surface immediately around the motte is flat and grassed over. The presence of a bailey was recorded in 1961 but no trace of it is visible today; it may have been removed by landscaping around the motte. Originally Pitfoddels belonged to the Moray family, passing in the late 14th century to the Reids. In the early 16th century, it passed by marriage to the Menzies, and it was probably they who were responsible for erecting a late medieval stone-built castle within the bailey of the earlier motte. This castle was ruinous by the 18th century but the site remained in the hands of the Menzies until 1843. The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan, with maximum dimensions of 70m from its easternmost to its westernmost point by 32m due N-S to include the motte and an area around it in which evidence relating to its construction and use may be expected to survive. The geogrid access road and car parking area is excluded from scheduling to allow for its maintenance.

From Historic Environment Scotland under OGL v3.