174 Topography of Dumfries. 



1 2th century Dumfries was reckoned a portion of Galloway, ^^ 

 and for long it would be an outpost of that fierce race — the 

 Galloway Picts. 



The Normans. 



That the importance of Dumfries as a strategic point 

 continued during the consolidation of the country is indicated 

 by the defensive structures about it. Hill forts gave way to 

 motes, as Celt and Saxon gave way to Norman. There was, 

 however, a difference, for whereas the forts were the refuges 

 and defences of men living in the community, the motes were 

 for the security of the overlord of the district. He was no 

 longer the chieftain of a semi-savage family or tribe with 

 uncertain boundaries to its possessions, but a Scoto-Norman 

 baron, holding his possessions from the crown and with 

 husbandmen and carles at command. 



The Motes. 



There is perhaps no town in Scotland so well provided 

 with motes as Dumfries. Whether the sites were selected on 

 a comprehensive plan for the purpose of defending the burgh, 

 or were merely chosen by the individual lords as suitable for 

 their purposes, the result to the town was the same. So 

 much so is this the case that deliberate intention appears the 

 more likely theory. We have difficulty in connecting these 

 motes at an early date with great families. If we can credit 

 the Kirkconnel MS., Lord Herbert Maxwell of Caerlaverock 

 was granted the Townhead Mote by the Crown in 1299.32 

 It certainly was in the possession of that family in the 

 15th century. 33 The Mote of Castledykes was certainly a 

 Crown possession, and there is sufficient evidence that in 

 Wilham the Lion's reign the Burgh also belonged to the 

 Crown. The motes at Troqueer and Lincluden were, of 

 course, within the Lordship of Galloway. Only at the north 

 and south was the burgh easily subject to attack, and it will 

 be observed that the motes seem to be designed to overlook 

 these approaches. On the north are the motes at Lincluden 

 College34 and at Townhead ; on the south are Troqueer Motels 

 and the old mote at Castledykes, only a third of which re- 



