EDINBURGH ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD SOCIETY

Geophvsical survev at Ogilface Castle and

Stand Hill, Armadale, West ~ o t h i a n ~ - N

rC

1. Summary

Area ground resistance and magnetometry surveys were made over two sites to the
west of Armadale. The first is recorded by RCAHMS as Ogilface Castle (site of)
standing on a narrow ridge that juts eastwards into the Barbauchlaw Glen. The ground
resistance survey was made over four 20 by 20m squares proceeding to the west from
the eastern end of the promontory with one fbrther square added to the north of the
fourth square where the promontory widened. The magnetometry survey was made at
a later date over the first four of these squares.

The printouts of the resistance and magnetometry surveys correlate well with an
apparent double ?tower at the eastern end. Magnetometry shows up one section better
than that in the resistance plot and vice-versa. It is possible that the building was
erected in two phases with the more easterly in igneous stone and the other half in
sandstone; both occur locally. The survey printouts also show possible building
foundation outlines stretching at least 50m to the west of the tower. A clear linear
high resistance and matching line of magnetic anomaly along the line of the southern
scarp of the promontory suggest a defensive wall. Less regular high resistances occur
on the north side of the promontory; these may also indicate a wall that has largely
collapsed due to erosion caused by the small burn on this side; the small burn curves
to join the Barbauchlaw Burn lower down the glen.

Stand Hill lies about 2km to the west of Ogilface Castle and an outline of a small
building is shown on the 0.S. 1:2500 map (NS9068) of 1983. This building is
surrounded by enclosure banks, a circular feature, possible track-ways and rig and
tirrow cultivation; all of these show up well on a variety of aerial photographs.
Thirteen 20 by 20m squares were laid out to include most of the main features and
were surveyed using both ground resistance and magnetometry equipment. The area
contains many igneous rocks and features on the magnetometry printout are difficult
to interpret but do correlate with the resistivity survey results. Both surveys confirm
features seen on the ground and in the aerial photographs. High resistance and
magnetic anomalies align with some of the banks suggesting residual walls and stone
clearance appears to have taken place within the enclosure that includes the building.

2. Introduction

Ogilface Castle remains lie at NGR NS 92692:69028 and it is recorded by RCAHMS

as NS 96 NWl . The remains consist of a series of stone blocks, partially overgrown
with turf, with a depression and tumbled stone at the centre. A slight ridge runs to the
west, along the south scarp of the promontory, but the only other cut stone appears to
have tumbled from the north side of the promontory towards the small bum. The
recorded history, of the castle, is very limited. It was the seat of the ancient family of
de Bosco, Barons of Ogilface, before passing into the possession of the Earls of
Linlithgow. M e r the fall of that family Ogilface no longer existed as a barony and the