Feudalism and David I
In the 12th century both the Kings of Scotland and powerful figures such as the Lords of Galloway desired to establish greater control over their lands. They did this by granting land to lesser native chiefs and to Anglo-Norman, Breton or Fleming knights in return for military service. This form of tenure was the feudal system borrowed from England where it had been introduced by the Norman Kings after William I. The Scottish king David I grew up in the English court and adopted this system in Scotland.
Royal authority advanced into south-west Scotland gradually, firstly Cunninghame, north of Irvine; then Kyle inbetween Irvine and Doon and then Carrick, south of the Doon. These were grouped together as the shire of Ayr. Powerful nobles established themselves in the area such as Hugh de Morville in Cunninghame and Walter Fitzalan in northern Kyle: whose descendants were to become the hereditary Stewards of Scotland and eventually become the ruling Stewart dynasty. The southern part of Kyle (King's Kyle) was put under the control of men who owed direct responsibility to the crown as it bordered the semi-independent state of Galloway. Great Lords such as these were the real power in the region subject only to minimal influence from a remote regent. They excercised total economic, military and judicial strength in their lands which afforded them both wealth and privilege. The feudal system operated through functions delegated to minor vassals by these Lords. These vassals were granted fiefdoms with defined borders and granted rights over the people and lands within.
The new local lords needed a secure home and base in their new territories, and quickly built earthwork castles of timber, earth and turf. Over 300 'mottes' of this type are known in Scotland - most commonly found in the north-east and south-west Scotland. The earliest 'motte' castles of this type are found in Normandy, dating from the 11th century.
The simplest castle was an earthwork - a 'motte' (the Old French word for a mound) - surrounded by a ditch. On top of the motte was a timber tower, encircled by a timber palisade. Some mottes have an adjoining yard, with other timber buildings, such as stores and stables. This too was defined and defended by a ditch and palisade. This was the bailey (from the Old French word 'bailie).
More than a quarter of the known 'mottes' are located in south-west Scotland. Concentrations in Annandale and Nithsdale match a known settlement pattern of relatively small landholdings there in the 12th and 13th centuries. The Galloway 'mottes' may be evidence of both the policies of the King of Scots and the later Lords of Galloway. Fergus, the first Lord of Galloway (c.1120-1160) ruled a semi-independent principality in Galloway and successfully resisted the encroaching authority of David I, so that there was little scope for David to settle his Anglo-Norman supporters here. David's successor, Malcolm IV (1153-1165), campaigned on three occasions in Galloway, leaving his supporters in castles to maintain his control of the province. Native Gallovidians rose against the King in 1160 and again in 1174 when the Scots were expelled, and the castle destroyed. Then another period of castle building followed after 1185 when Roland, Lord of Galloway placed his supporters including Anglo-Normans in castles across the territory. In 1186 part of Galloway was detached and the Earldom of Carrick was formed. This was granted to Duncan, one of the ruling house of Galloway under vassalage to the Scottish King, William the Lion. This Earldom eventually passed to the control of the Bruces.
One of the best examples of a 'motte and bailey' castle in Scotland is the Motte of Urr, near Dalbeattie. The bailey is roughly oval in plan and encloses 2 hectares. It is defined by a 15 m wide ditch. The motte is placed at the south end of the bailey, and has its own ditch. Excavation showed that fire had destroyed 12th century buildings and palisade on top of the motte. Sometime thereafter it was heightened by almost 2 metres, and occupied until the 14th century. The first recorded Lord of Urr was William de Berkeley (died c. 1194), who was the chamberlain of William I of Scotland. The building of the Motte of Urr may be evidence of the King of Scots policy of attempting to bring Galloway under the Crown's control; evidence of its destruction in the 12th century may equally be indicative of the Gallovidian resistance.
Examples of smaller mottes in Galloway include Balmaclellan, Parton and Cally near Gatehouse-of-Fleet.
