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From Jim Jeffrey, 26 September 2006: Have an Ayrshire History query that occurred to me last night as I watched a documentary on "Pagan" England. In that program they showed a hill (Simsbury area?) constructed primarily they now think as a signaling site. It reminded
me of the Mote in Dalmellington. The program showed many similar structures and they all had a moat around them. Although the Muck burn runs around a small portion of the Dalmellington Mote I doubt that it was even completely surrounded by water. Would your site be one to posting a query to find out if there has been any archaeological investigations to determine the origins and purposes for the Dalmellington mote.

From David McClure: See the first OS map above (1857). The best source for information is the RCAHMS database, from which I have obtained the following information.

Archaeology Notes © RCAHMS

NS40NE 3 4819 0580.

(NS 4819 0580) Motte (NR)
OS 1:10000 map (1978)

Dalmellington Mote is nearly circular, 60ft in diameter on the level top, and slopes steeply to a trench which cuts it off from the Castle Crofts plateau on the E and S, and from the slope to the village westward. To the N, a narrow terrace completes the circuit. The trench is 6 to 9ft wide at the bottom, and has an outer, flat-topped low rampart on the W side. The mound rises about 30ft above the terrace and some 60 to 70ft above the village. The mound was superficially restored about 40 years ago. D Christison 1893

This well-preserved motte is generally as described by Christison. The height of the counterscarp of the ditch is 1.5m, and the terrace is, on average, 3.0m wide. Visited by OS (JLD) 15 July 1954

The motte is still as described above. Visited by OS (WDJ) 9 November 1959

No change to the previous information. Visited by OS (MJF) 17 September 1980

NS 482 058 A watching brief was maintained in November 2002 during the erection of four lighting columns, the excavation of a trench for an underground cable, and the refurbishment of stairs. The concrete steps were each removed and the bedding levelled before being replaced. The trench was excavated along an existing path to cause as little disturbance as possible. No features of archaeological significance were identified. Report lodged with WoSAS SMR and the NMRS. Sponsor: East Ayrshire Council. S Coulter 2003

References

Christison, D (1893 b)
'The prehistoric forts of Ayrshire',
Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 27, 1892-3, 382-4,
Coulter, S (2003 )
'Dalmellington Motte (Dalmellington parish), watching brief',
Discovery Excav Scot, 4, 2003, 53,