Fintry Motte

Fintry Motte is a large ditched motte which can be accessed from public footpaths to the south of Fintry village. It lies within Fintry wood, and is overgrown with mature trees. The motte occupies a shoulder of land which is overlooked by Dunbeg and Dunmore forts, and may have been used as a defensive site prior to the medieval period. The motte has been created out of upcast materials from the impressive ditch, and has an oval summit measuring about 38 metres by 23, the height varying from three to five metres above the base of the ditch. There is no causeway which indicates access was over a timber bridge.

The motte lies in land belonging to the earldom of Lennox, which was granted to the brother of King William, Prince David, earl of Huntingdon. David may have controlled the Lennox from 1174 to 1190, an earldom the proved to be socially resistant to external influences, and there is no evidence that the earls founded castles on their land at this time, suggesting that it may well have been established by Earl David or one of his tenants, possibly his steward Alan son of Hugh. The history of the castle here is unknown, but it would be logical to assume that the castle remained in use until the late 13th or early 14th century before being abandoned during the Wars of Independence. As no archaeology has been done here, tis is, however, speculation.

HES Canmore database entry