Auchterless Moathead

Auchterless Moathead is a fairly large motte created by the excavation of a ditch to isolate a level platform overlooking the River Ythan just to the east of the old church of Auchterless. It lies to the rear of farm buildings, and is largely overgrown, making it hard to identify, although it is clear on LIDAR imagery. The lands of Auchterless were part of the substantial thanage of Formartine, first mentioned in 1266  and maintained until the late 14th century. A Walter of Auchterless is on record late in the reign of King William, but in 1379 David Dempster of Auchterless is mentioned, first of several Dempsters to hold the lands. Whether they were related to Walter is unclear, but the dempster was a job title, so it is possible. Auchterless was divided during the 15th century, parts going to the Irvines of Drum, and part to the Allardice family, what remained to the Dempsters was named Auchterless-Dempster, held in barony from 1504, and in 1592 the charter to Thomas Dempster was for the “lands and barony of Auchterless-Dempster, with the tower etc”. Subsequently the family fell onto hard times, and the estates were sold off. Another part became known as Auchterless-Meldrum.

It is not clear which part of the barony the Moathead was in. However there was a tradition of the motte being used as the baronial court, which would link it to the Dempster family. Whether the tower mentioned in 1592 was at the Moathead or not is unknown – but it seems likely as the location of baronial seats was conservative and rarely changed much until the more modern era. The area of the summit is about 27 metres across, which is plenty for a tower and courtyard – or for an earlier defended hall and additional buildings, and the proximity to the church also speaks of it being an early foundation. We might therefore see the site as being one of the manors making up the royal thanage of Formartine, occupied by supporters of the Comyns of Buchan and destroyed during the early 14th century before being brought back into service as the seat of a barony granted to men willing to support Robert Bruce, and the site of a tower house and courtyard in the 16th century. However, further evidence for the tower is unknown, and it may have been to the north-west, at Hatton Manor Farm. Halltoun of Auchterless certainly remained within the Dempster lands.

HES Canmore database entry