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Remains of a motte and bailey castle, dating from the 12th Century. The bass is a natural mound which was converted to a motte by the scarping of its sides and the excavation of a ditch around it which is now infilled. The bailey lies to the east (NJ72SE0127), known as the Little Bass. The motte and bailey were originally joined, but landscaping work in 1883 cut a path between the two, as well as levelling the top of the motte. The motte now stands in the middle of a cemetery (NJ72SE0211). The original dimensions of the ditch surrounding the motte were revealed during grave-digging. The mound is currently circa 12 m in height and circa 18 m in diameter across its top. During excavations in the 19th Century the remains of an oaken gangway up the south face of the motte were discovered. Worked flints have been found around the base of the motte and also a cushion macehead and an adze. Pieces of a 14th Century face mask jug were found in the ditch during grave digging. The hereditary constables of Inverurie during the 12th - 13th Centuries were the De Lesselyn (Leslie) family. The castle appears to have been the administrative centre for the Garioch area in the 12th and 13th Centuries.
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Historic Environment Records (HER)