Skip to main content

Ordnance Survey - Ayr county, OS Name Books - Ayr county - Volume 21 - Parish of Dalmellington, OS1/3/21

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 62
Dalmellington Parish -- Sheet 46 -16

F.E.P. [Francis Edward Pratt]
Lieut. R.E. [Lieutenant Royal Engineers]

"An interesting remain of baronial power is pointed out in the beautifully rounded
"and terraced mothill, or justice seat, which still exists in nearly the same condition as when
"the law was promulgated to the assembled inhabitants from its summit. It is situated
"at the head of the village, between the houses and the site of the castle, and commands an
"excellent view of the strath of the Doon for several miles. It is generally believed that these
"mots were first used when the feudal system was introduced; but the probability is that
"they were older. We know that the Brehon law of the Scots, if not of the ancient Picts or
"Britons, was administered in a similar manner in the open air. The Gaelic mod, or court
"of justice is clearly the Lowland mot, to which the Saxon word hill being added, we
" have the mot-hill, or hill of justice. The oldest mound of this kind, of which we have
" any record, is the mute-hill of Scone, as it was written of old; believed to have been used
"for the promulgation of laws and the administration of justice by Malcolm Canmore. It is
" mentioned in the Leges Malcomi, which though held to be a fabulous work, is nevertheless
" indicative of the antiquity of the mot-hill of Scone. These hills were mostly artificial,
" or, at least, partly so; and being composed of excellent mould, maintained a green appearance
" rich in colour, and striking in form".
Patterson's History of Ayrshire (1847)

Ordnance Survey - Ayr county, OS Name Books - Ayr county - Volume 21 - Parish of Dalmellington, OS1/3/21

This volume contains information on place names found in the parish of Dalmellington.

Ordnance Survey - Ayr county

Ordnance Survey was established in the 18th century to create maps, surveys and associated records for the entirety of Great Britain. These records are arranged by county. This entry has been created to enable searching for Ordnance Survey records for the county of Ayr, which is in the south west of Scotland. The boundaries of the county were altered by the Boundary Commissioners in 1891.

View more volumes for Ordnance Survey - Ayr county