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{{Short description|Assembly place in early medieval Britain}}
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{{Use British English|date=November 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}

A '''moot hill''' or '''''mons placiti''''' (statute hill)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/CustomPages/CustomPage.aspx?PageID=17707|title=Mons Placiti.}}{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> is a hill or mound historically used as an assembly or meeting place, as a [[moot hall]] is a meeting or assembly building, also traditionally to decide local issues. In [[Early Middle Ages|early medieval]] [[Britain in the Middle Ages|Britain]], such hills were used for "moots", meetings of local people to settle local business. Among other things, proclamations might be read; decisions might be taken; court cases might be settled at a moot. Although some moot hills were naturally occurring features or had been created long before as burial mounds, others were purpose-built.

==Etymology==
Although the word ''moot'' or ''mote'' is of [[Old English]] origin, deriving from the verb ''to meet'', it has come to have a wider meaning throughout the United Kingdom; initially referring to any popular gathering.

In England, the word ''[[folkmoot]]'' in time came to mean a more specific local assembly with recognised legal rights.  In Scotland the term is used in the literature for want of any other single accepted term.

The Scottish Gaelic place name "Tom a' Mhòid" translates as "the hill of the court". The Gaelic form has the familiar Gaelic word "mòd" in the context of the annual cultural event, a "gathering", but in this context, one for judgement and possible execution. The term is cognate with the English word "moot".<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3223498|title=Geograph:: Tom a' Mhòid © Lairich Rig cc-by-sa/2.0|website=www.geograph.org.uk|access-date=11 March 2020|archive-date=11 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811103608/http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/3223498|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Siting and purpose==
Many moot, "mote" or "mute" hills are known by that name today. Others have local names such as '''Court Hill''', '''Judges Hill''', '''Justice Hill''', Judgement Hill, Mount, Munt, Moat Hill, Tandle, Downan, Bonfire Hill, Cuthill, etc. Many are also associated with names such as Knol, knock, knowe, or law.<ref>Love, Dane (2009). ''Legendary Ayrshire. Custom: Folklore: Tradition''. Auchinleck: Carn Publishing. {{ISBN|978-0-9518128-6-0}}. pp. 91–100</ref>

Many other names are used for prominent earthworks, depending to some extent on their location within the United Kingdom, and some of them are known to have served as moot hills at some point in their existence. Terms include Tumulus, how, howe, low, tump, cnwc, pen, butt, toot, tot, cop, mount, mound, hill, knoll, mot, moot, knol, motte, and druid hill. Often the names are combined, as in Knockenlaw, Law Mount, etc.

Some hills known today as "moot hills" were actually historically ''mottes'' (from an unrelated French word meaning "mound"), the remains of a [[motte-and-bailey]] castle. (In this fortification, a wooden or stone [[keep]] was built atop a small mound, usually man-made, which was in turn surrounded by a ditch and an outer ward called the "bailey".) In some cases a mound built as a motte may have seen later use as a functioning moot hill.<ref>Strawhorn, John (1994). The History of Irvine. Edinburgh: John Donald. {{ISBN|0-85976-140-1}}. p. 31.</ref>

Moots may have met on existing archaeological mound sites such as tumuli or mottes; others on entirely natural mounds such as the one at [[Mugdock Country Park|Mugdock]] or natural mounds which were modified for the intended purpose. One common aid to identification is size: most moot hills, in addition to lacking signs of defensive walls and ditches, are smaller than most mottes.<ref name="Struan">{{Cite web|url=https://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/dtog/donnachaidh/article9.htm|title=The Early Medieval Landscape of Struan|website=www.electricscotland.com|access-date=21 January 2022|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418234204/https://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/dtog/donnachaidh/article9.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Some known moot hill sites are surrounded by water, such as Mugdock, Mound Wood and Court Hill at the Hill of Beith; others may well have been, such as Hutt Knowe. Such inaccessibility would have required the use of a boat or raised walkway. Wood Mound is clearly man-made and therefore the relationship between these sites and water may have had some functional or religious significance.

===Cuthills===
These were places of assembly in early medieval times, mostly in northern Scotland. The term (also Couthil or Cuthil) is found as a placename element at over sixty sites and many are associated with medieval shires or thanages. The term does not suggest a hill or mound site, being derived from the Gaelic term 'comhdhail', a place of assembly. Such assemblies were non-seignoral burlaw courts and dealt with minor disputes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/633/1/Grant_Franchises.pdf |title=Baronies & Regalities. Accessed: 2009/12/03 |access-date=2 December 2009 |archive-date=5 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005111229/http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/633/1/Grant_Franchises.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Francis Grose===
Francis Grose in 1797 published his 'Antiquities of Scotland', and going from the 1789 date of the numerous engravings this was a little over forty years from the abolition of this aspect of the feudal system. Grose states ''mote hills, or places for administration of public justice, for considerable districts; and courts hills, whereon the ancient lairds held their baronial courts, before the demolition of the feudal system. These mote and court hills serve to explain the use of these high mounts still remaining near our ancient castles''.<ref>Grose, Francis (1797). ''The Antiquities of Scotland''. High Holborn: Hooper and Wigstead. p. iv.</ref> He goes on to say –

{{blockquote|In ancient times, courts for the administration of justice were generally held in the open fields, and judgement was both given and executed in the same place; in every earldom, and almost every barony and jurisdiction of any considerable extent, there was a particular place allotted for that purpose; it was generally a small eminence, either natural or artificial, near the principal Mansion-house and was called the mote hill, or in Latin, mons placiti. In that place all the vassals of the jurisdiction were obliged to appear at iwdain times; and the superior gave judgement in such cases as fell within the powers committed to him by law or custom; in the same spot too, the gallows was erected for the execution of capital offenders; hence these places commonly go by the name of the Gallows Knoll; near the royal palaces there was usually a mote hill, where all the freeholders of the kingdom met together, both to transact public offices, and to do homage to their sovereign, who was seated on the top of the eminence. The mote hill at Scoons this day universally known. It is highly probable the Hurly Heaky (named after the sport of sliding down a slope on a trough or sledge; tobogganing) was the mote hill of the Castle of Sterling, or perhaps of a much larger jurisdiction. In 1360, a deadly feud which had long subsisted between the Drummonds and Menteaths, at that time two of the most powerful families in Perthshire, and which had heen the cause of much rapine and bloodshed, was composed by the interposition of Sir Robert Erskine and Sir Hugh Eglington, the two great justiciaries of the nation, in the neighbourhood, if not on the very mount. Our authority says, ''Super ripam aquae de Forth juxta Strivelyn.''  This mode of distributing justice appears to have been the custom of almost all nations, in the more early days of their state; and that it only to give their judicial procedures a greater appearance of impartiality and justice, by being carried on in public view, but because there were not houses large enough to contain the numbers that usually attended them. The court of Areopagus, at Athens, sat for many years after its first institution, in the open air.<ref>Grose, Francis (1797). ''The Antiquities of Scotland''. High Holborn: Hooper and Wigstead. p. iv – v.</ref>}}

Grose records that the last instance of a Baron Baillie sentencing and carrying out a death sentence in Nithsdale was at Barnside Hill in around 1697. Sir Robert Grierson, Bart was the baron concerned and the victim was a sheep stealer.<ref name="Grose, Francis 1797 p. 154">Grose, Francis (1797). ''The Antiquities of Scotland''. High Holborn: Hooper and Wigstead. p. 154.</ref>

==Origins==
{{wiktionary|moot}}
It is known that in Scotland, [[Brehon law|Brehons]] or Judges administered justice from  'Court Hills', especially in the highlands, where they were called a ''tomemoid'' (from [[Scots Gaelic]] ''tom a' mhòid'') – that is, the Court Hillock. In ancient times suitable buildings would rarely have existed and there was usually no alternative other than to use an outdoor gathering place. It is said that Irish colonists brought with them Brehon law, the use of Moot hills and the law of [[tanistry]].<ref name="Tanistry">[[Wikibooks:A Researcher's Guide to Local History Terminology|A Researcher's Guide to Local History terminology]]</ref> Every baron had a moot hill and the [[Chartulary|chartularies]] of religious houses record that they too used moot hills for holding courts.<ref name="Dobie35">Dobie, James (1876) ''Cuninghame topographised by Timothy Pont''. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow. p. 35.</ref>

The moot hills' part in the practice of law derives from the introduction of [[feudalism]] by the [[Normans]] in England or in Scotland by the Scottish kings such as [[David I of Scotland|David I]] 1125–1153 who introduced feudalism and delegated very extensive jurisdiction over large areas of land to men like the Walter the Steward (Renfrew & the northern half of Kyle) or de Morville (Cunningham) and they in turn delegated quite extensive powers to their own vassals. These invitees, largely of Norman, Fleming and Breton origin were, under feudal charter, given significant grants of land, were invited and did not come as conquerors as had been the case in England. There were in certain instances a close connection between the old Celtic [[thegn|thane]]ages (a hereditary non-military tenant of the crown) and the new feudal baronies.

There was therefore no wholesale displacement of native lords in Scotland. In 1200 all the earls north of Forth and Clyde were still of Celtic descent; and as late as 1286, eight of the earldoms in Scotland were still in the hands of those of native stock. Many native lords were granted or confirmed in their lands in feudal form. Within a few generations, regular intermarriage and the Wars of Independence had removed most of the differences between native and incomer, although not those between Highlander and Lowlander.<ref name="Feudalism">{{Cite web |url=http://www.burkes-peerage.net/articles/scotland/page14e.aspx |title=Feudalism |access-date=4 October 2007 |archive-date=11 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011105109/http://www.burkes-peerage.net/articles/scotland/page14e.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

Burgh courts were held in the open air, round the market cross, a standing stone, a moot hill or a prominent tree. These courts were held three times a year – the chief court after [[Passover|Pasch]] (Passover or Easter), the next after [[Michaelmas]], when the magistrates or burgh-reeves were elected, and the third after [[Yule]] or Christmas. All burgesses were bound to attend.<ref name="Knight">Knight, James (1931). ''Glasgow and Strathclyde''. London: Thomas Nelson & Sons. p. 87.</ref>

===Baronies===
{{Main|Feudal barony}}
[[File:Greenhills mound.JPG|thumb|left|A mound near Greenhill farm in the old [[Barony and Castle of Giffen|Barony of Giffen]]]]
A Barony was an area of land, not always contiguous, granted by the Crown to a Tenant. Baronies became a unit in administration and law, however the actual size was variable and they merged or separated from time to time. The holder or Baron had power to hold courts which dealt with civil and criminal cases of less than major importance. Some crimes were reserved for royal courts, namely murder, rape, robbery with violence, fire raising and treason. To come under the jurisdiction of a baronial court, the crime had to have been committed within the barony or concerned its people or property.<ref name="Donald">{{Cite web |url=http://www.clanmunro.org.uk/information/info9.htm |title=The Guardians of Clan Donald |access-date=4 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070806082523/http://www.clanmunro.org.uk/information/info9.htm |archive-date=6 August 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Donaldson">Donaldson, Gordon, et al. (1988) ''The Story of Scotland''. Sunday Mail. p. 99.</ref>

In England a Baron was a peerage title. This was not the case in Scotland. He or she held the land directly from the King or Queen. After {{circa}} 1700 the emphasis was on administration, a good neighbourhood and economic and other rules for the benefit of those living within the Barony. In 1747 the criminal jurisdiction of a Baron Court was much restricted. The Barony was largely a self-governing community, however there was a system of appeals to the Sheriff and the Central Courts.<ref name="Donald"/>

The term baron had simply meant "man" originally; later the term baron came to imply holding the barony lands immediately of the King. Finally baron came to mean one who held such lands "of the King" with accompanying rights and duties and therefore the word came to mean one who held as 'tenant in chief' of the King's lands erected by Charter 'in free barony'. Sir John Skene in his glossary of Scots legal terms defines it as ''In this Realme he is called ane Barrone quha haldis his landes immediatlie in chiefe of the King and hes power of pit and gallow.''<ref name="Genealogist">{{Cite web |url=http://www.scotsgenealogy.com/online/baronage_of_scotland.htm |title=The Scottish Genealogist |access-date=4 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702020515/http://www.scotsgenealogy.com/online/baronage_of_scotland.htm |archive-date=2 July 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Barons of Scotland continued to have the right to sit in the Scottish Parliament until 1594.<ref name="Peers">{{Cite web|url=http://www.scotsgenealogy.com/online/peers_and_heirs.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912082500/http://www.scotsgenealogy.com/online/peers_and_heirs.htm|url-status=dead|title=Barons and baronies.|archivedate=12 September 2007}}</ref>

====Baronial courts====
[[File:Loudoun Kirk - Dempster.JPG|thumb|200px|Gravestone to a Dempster]]
Baronies were social units and their courts a form of council which enabled the area of the barony to function effectively as an early form of self-government. In mediaeval law the barony required a principal residence at which the legal process could be formally transacted. Many abandoned castles motes therefore continued in use for this purpose.<ref name="Mackenzie30">Mackenzie, W. Mackay (1927). ''The Mediaeval Castle in Scotland.'' Pub. Methuen & Co. Ltd. p. 30.</ref>
The baron and the baron baillie, his deputy, and the council, were concerned with such matters as: responsibility for repair to ditches and hedges, assessment of damage caused by cattle found on another's ground, under [[thirlage]] laws, the maintenance of the mill race in good order and free from weeds and the mending of the mill dam. Even cases of neighbours using "unreasonable language", and "miscalling one another" were brought before the court. The court might also regulate the rotation of crops and the manuring of the ground. Ecclesiastical courts also existed as shown by the example of the Abbot of Kilwinning's court hill near [[Beith]].<ref name="Genealogist"/><ref name="Peers"/> Three times a year the baron also had the right to clear his lands of evildoers and men of ill repute.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/633/1/Grant_Franchises.pdf|title=Baronys and Regalities|access-date=2 December 2009|archive-date=5 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005111229/http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/633/1/Grant_Franchises.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

The feudal Baron appointed the Officers of a Baron Court. Barons therefore had public law executive and judicial authority over the public affairs of that Barony. The officers were:
*The Baron-Baillie was the principal administrative officer; the Baillie's insignia of office was a Cap of Justice, a Black legal Robe, and a medal of office on a chain
*The Baron-Clerk acted as administrative secretary of the Barony.
*The Dempster or Deemster was responsible for executing the judicial decisions and announced the "doom" as the sentence was called.
*The Baron-Sergeant kept order, summoned the parties involved and enforced civil decrees of the Court; the Sergeant's insignia of office was a 37"  white Ellwand and a Horn to summon attendance.
*The [[Procurator Fiscal]] operated as the civil and criminal prosecutor in matters before the Baron Court.<ref name="Barons">{{Cite web|url=http://www.scotsbarons.org/contents.htm|title=The Convention of the Barons of Scotland|access-date=8 October 2007|archive-date=13 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070913175128/http://www.scotsbarons.org/contents.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

By the [[Heritable Jurisdictions (Scotland) Act 1746]] the powers of life and death were removed from the Baron Court and the criminal jurisdiction was very significantly reduced but not entirely abolished. The hereditary jurisdictions of Regality Courts and of the Sheriff Courts were abolished and the owners received significant sums in compensation.<ref name="Genealogist"/> It can be stated therefore that most moot and gallow hills ceased to have a role in the judicial process at that time.

The [[Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000]] removed all the remaining aspects of the feudal baronial system, apart from the baronial titles themselves. The entire system whereby land was held by a vassal on perpetual tenure from a superior, was, on this appointed day, abolished.<ref name="Genealogist"/><ref name="Peers"/>

====Pit and gallows====
[[File:Pit Prison entrance grille, Hailes Castle, East Lothian.JPG|thumb|180px|One of the two pit prisons in [[Hailes Castle]], [[East Lothian]]]]
It was enacted at the parliament assembled in [[Forfar]] in 1057 by King [[Malcolm Canmore]] that every baron should erect a [[gibbet]] ([[gallows]]) for the execution of male criminals, and sink a well or pit, for the [[Drowning-pit|drowning of females]].<ref>Train, Joseph (1844). ''The Dule Tree of Cassillis.'' ''The Ayrshire Wreath MDCCCXLIV.'' Kilmarnock : R. Crawford & Son. Page 40</ref> The term ''pit and gallows'' described the jurisdiction of a baron in criminal cases; in full 'pit and gallows, [[sake and soke]], thane, bluidewite, [[toll, team]], [[Infangthief and outfangthief|infangthieff]] and outfangthieff'.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/633/1/Grant_Franchises.pdf |title=Baronies & Regalities. Accessed: 2009/12/02 |access-date=2 December 2009 |archive-date=5 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005111229/http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/633/1/Grant_Franchises.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> 'Sock' was the power to hold courts; 'sack' was the right to enforce fines; 'thane' was the right to possess and dispose of slaves; 'bluidewite' allowed for cases of bloodshed being tried; 'infangthieff' and 'outfangthieff' referred to the punishment of thieves from inside the barony and from other baronies.<ref name="pesn">Martin, Daniel (2016). ''Upper Clydesdale. A History and Guide''. Edinburgh : Burlinn Limited. p.7</ref>

Some historians claimed<ref name="Mackenzie">Mackenzie, W. Mackay (1927). ''The Mediaeval Castle in Scotland''. Pub. Methuen & Co. Ltd., London.</ref> that a pit was a dungeon or prison cell, not a pit for drowning the condemned. Others take the view that the pit was the [[drowning pit]] for women.<ref name="Donald"/> It is not clear why men were more likely to be hanged and women drowned in a fen, river, pit or 'murder hole'; however, it may relate to ideas of decency. The place name '[[Muttonhole]]' is not infrequently found, and one suggestion is that it is derived from 'mort-toun-hole', another of the names for a drowning pit.<ref name="The History of Fettercairn">{{Cite web|url=https://www.electricscotland.com/history/fettercairn/chapter19.htm|title=The History of Fettercairn|website=www.electricscotland.com|access-date=21 January 2022|archive-date=8 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708133504/http://www.electricscotland.com/history/fettercairn/chapter19.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Cameron|first=Archibald Cowie|title=The History of Fettercairn|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L2ULAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA142|year=1899|publisher=J. and R. Parlane|page=142|quote="Gallowhills," and the women by drowning in the Mort-toun-holes, or "Muttonholes" as these are now called.|access-date=8 June 2020|archive-date=8 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608072002/https://books.google.com/books?id=L2ULAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA142|url-status=live}}</ref> At [[Cumnock]] in [[East Ayrshire]], women were placed in a sack and the mouth was tied;<ref name="L44">Warrick, Revd John (1899). ''The History of Old Cumnock''. 1992 Reprint. Cumnock: Carn Publishing. p. 44</ref> in other cases the condemned had to walk down a ladder that was then withdrawn. Many moot hills are near rivers or wetlands. It was often the case that barony courts were not keen on imposing death sentences due to the expense of carrying out the sentence and banishment was a cheaper option.<ref name="pesn"/>

In Norse law, the reason was that men were sent to [[Wodan]], and women were given to [[Rán|Ran]] (a sea goddess) or [[Hel (being)|Hel]]. In Norse tradition, the pit and gallows stood on the west of the moot-places or the prince's hall ready for use.<ref name="Northvegr">{{Cite web |url=http://www.northvegr.org/lore/sigfred_arminius/00704.php |title=The Northvegr Foundation |access-date=4 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040120190912/http://www.northvegr.org/lore/sigfred_arminius/00704.php |archive-date=20 January 2004 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[binomial expression]]s '[[furca (punishment)|furca]] and [[drowning pit|fossa]]' and 'pit and gallows' refer to the [[high justice]] including the capital penalty. The furca was a device of punishment in ancient Rome and refers to the gallows for hanging men; the fossa was a pit for the drowning of women. As previously stated, the hereditary right of high justice survived until 1747, when it was removed from the barons and from the holders of [[regalities]] and sheriffdoms, by the [[Heritable Jurisdictions (Scotland) Act 1746]].<ref name="Genealogist"/>

It is not clear that the moot hill was also the actual site of executions; folklore, tradition and the association of separate 'gallow' places names with moot hills on balance suggests that the usual place of execution was a separate 'gallows hill'. At Gardyne Law ([[Gardyne Castle]]'s moot hill), however, an eyewitness recalled that judgement and execution took place on the same law. It does seems unlikely that in those superstitious days, meetings would be held at places of death. At [[Mugdock Country Park|Mugdock]], separate moot and gallow hills are a good example. Such gallows may have been built of worked timber or a [[Dule Tree]] may have been used.<ref name="Smith128">Smith, John (1895). Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire. Pub. Elliot Stock. p. 128.</ref> [[RCAHMS]] records show that human bones have been frequently found in association with 'gallows' place name sites, but not at 'moot' sites. The term 'murder hole' may relate to the drowning sites, bones have been found close to some of these.<ref name="RCAHMS">{{Cite web|url=https://www.historicenvironment.scot/|title=Historic Environment Scotland|website=www.historicenvironment.scot|access-date=21 January 2022|archive-date=19 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119175026/https://www.historicenvironment.scot/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====The standard of justice====
An Ayrshire story tells of how an Ayrshire baron once strung up an innocent man, just because his visitor had never seen a man hanged before.<ref name="Smith128"/> Hopefully this was an isolated example, however the system suffered from many faults due to bias, lack of legal training, etc., etc. As stated, a right of appeal to Regalities and sheriffdoms courts did exist.<ref name="Peers"/> Details of the sometimes shocking excesses of baron bailies can make painful reading. ''As their power was great and generally abused, so many of them enriched themselves. They had many ways of making money for themselves, such as (1) the bailie's darak, as it was called, or a day's labour in the year from every tenant on the estate; (2) confiscations, as they generally seized on all the goods and effects of such as suffered capitally; (3) all fines for killing game, blackfish, or cutting green wood were laid on by themselves, and went into their own pockets. These fines amounted to what they pleased almost. (4) Another very lucrative perquisite they had was what was called the Herial Horse, which was the best horse, cow, ox, or other article which any tenant on the estate possessed at the time of his death. This was taken from the widow and children for the bailie, at the time they had most need of assistance. This amounted to a great deal of extra income for the baillie of a large barony.''<ref name="Bailies">{{Cite web|url=https://www.electricscotland.com/history/cairngorm/16.htm|title=In the Shadow of Cairngorm - In the Days of the Baron Bailies|website=www.electricscotland.com|access-date=21 January 2022|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419000746/https://www.electricscotland.com/history/cairngorm/16.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Summoning people to the moot==
At times it would be necessary to summon people to come to the mote for judgement, proclamations, gatherings, etc. This was sometimes done by ringing a bell, which was fitted upon or beside the moot hill, especially when a date for the meeting had not been previously set.<ref name="Smith122">Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. Pub. Elliot Stock. p. 122.</ref> At [[Barony and Castle of Giffen|Greenhills]] near Barrmill in [[North Ayrshire]] a different method is said to have been employed, namely that of raising a flag at the Bore stone; a prominent site near the moot hill. It is likely that bonfires would have been lit as a signal, either from the smoke during the day or the light at night. A 'Bonfire hill' place name survives at [[Stewarton]] in [[East Ayrshire]] and a 'Bonfire knowe' is recorded at Kilmarnock.<ref>Love, Dane (2009). ''Legendary Ayrshire. Custom: Folklore: Tradition''. Auchinleck: Carn Publishing. {{ISBN|978-0-9518128-6-0}}. p. 96</ref> The [[Tarbolton]] moot was still used for lighting bonfires up until the 19th-century at least and the name Shinny Hill is suggestive of traditional bonfires; a 'Shinicle' being a halloween bonfire.

==Links with the land==
The significance of direct links with the land is shown by the standing on 'home' soil at the Scone moot, the use of soil from each parish in the building of the Tynwald Hill and the discovery of soil from several distant locations at the centre of [[Silbury Hill]].<ref name="Silbury">de Bruxelles, Simon. "Last chance to solve the puzzle of ancient hill." ''The Times''. 25 October 2007. p. 37.</ref> This practice may link with beliefs that lay behind the ceremonies at the [[petrosomatoglyph]] footprints on [[Dunadd]] and at other sites.

In the 15th century the [[Tinwald, Scotland|Tinwald]] Mote near [[Dumfries]] was still the legal head of the [[Scottish feudal barony|barony]], where [[sasine]] (possession) was given by the ceremony of handing the grantee, before witnesses, a handful of earth and stone from the ''head messuage called the Mote near the church of Tynwald.''<ref name=autogenerated4>Mackenzie, W. Mackay (1927). ''The Mediaeval Castle in Scotland.'' Pub. Methuen & Co. Ltd. p. 17.</ref> In mediaeval law the barony required a principal residence at which the legal process could be formally transacted, which explains why many such motes as that at [[Ellon, Aberdeenshire|Ellon]] were retained, here by the earls of [[Buchan]], when little else remained of their possessions in the district. The mote still carried the dignity of the earldom.<ref name=autogenerated3>Mackenzie, W. Mackay (1927). ''The Mediaeval Castle in Scotland.'' Pub. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd. p. 30.</ref>

The sasine is the legal act of register of land ownership, pronounced ''sayseen''. In the context of the significance of the physical aspect of soil and stone, the act of conferring sasine was originally (for example in 1615<ref name="Robert Broun 1894. p. 147">''Protocol Book of Robert Broun''. Arch. & Hist. Coll. relating to Ayrshire & Galloway. Vol. VII. 1894. p. 147.</ref>) effected by the handing over of a bowl full of earth from the land and / or a stone of the house by the proprietor or seller to his heir or the buyer, who was then said to be seized of the land or house.<ref name="McLeod">McLeod, Alex. G. (Edit), ''The Book of Old Darvel.'' Pub. Darvel: Walker & Connell. p. 56.</ref> Likewise the land rent payable was symbolised by the passing of a bowl of grass and the tithe as a bowl full of grain.<ref name="Robert Broun 1894. p. 147"/><ref name=autogenerated2>McLeod, Alex. G. (Editor), ''The Book of Old Darvel and Some of its Famous Sons.'' Pub. Darvel: Walker & Connell.</ref> The act of homage for holding a fief also involved the act of investiture. enacted by the delivering of a turf or a handful of earth to the individual to whom the land was being granted.<ref name="Mackay">Mackay, James (1996), ''William Wallace: Brave Heart''. Pub. Edinburgh & London: Mainstream. {{ISBN|1-85158-823-X}}. p. 25.</ref>

==The demise of moot hills==
[[File:Riccarton judgement hill.JPG|thumb|250px|The old judgement hill at [[Riccarton, Ayrshire|Riccarton]], now topped by a church.]]
[[File:Riccarton hill of judgement.JPG|left|thumb|160px|The [[historical plaque]] for the old judgement hill at Riccarton.]]
In Scotland feudalism and its bonds of allegiance to the local laird was associated with the [[Jacobite risings]] with the result that the [[House of Hanover|Hanoverian]] Government took steps to undermine the system. After 1747 the moot hill was not used as a part of the baronial court process and the requirement for a gathering place for soldiers was also a thing of the past. The construction of [[Moot hall]]s did away with the need to meet in the outdoors. Moot hills gradually ceased to have any significant role and many have suffered the final ignomy of being ploughed out and their existence almost or actually forgotten. Place names and local folklore have preserved the memory of a few, however records suggest that the majority have been destroyed. A few moot hills ended up with unlikely secondary uses, such as Knockenlaw, which was used as the 'blast wall' for a [[gunpowder magazine]] and Chapel Hill which was used as a viewing point for watching horse racing.

A few, notably the [[Tynwald Hill]] in the [[Isle of Man]], continue to have a function in the 21st century. Some were built on and took on a new role, such as the moot hill at [[Riccarton, Ayrshire|Riccarton]] near [[Kilmarnock]], which had a kirk (church) built on it in 1823.

===Locating old moot hills===
Many barony lands were merged with other baronies at one time or other and therefore some of the associated moot hills would have ceased to have a role well before the demise of the baronial courts in 1747. Moot hills in this category may have remained as features of the landscape, but often without any local traditions relating to them being recorded. Place names are a guide, especially if local traditions have survived as well. Written records often survive, such as in 1346 a ''William Baillie, the Baillie of Lambistoun or Lambimtoun, vulgarly called Lamington'' is listed by Dalrymple<ref name="Dalrymple327">Dalrymple, Sir David (1776). ''Annals of Scotland''. Pub. J. Murray. London. Vol. II. p. 327.</ref> amongst the prisoners taken by the English at the [[Battle of Durham]] which had taken place on 17 October of that year. He was in the company of a Thomas Boyd of Kilmarnock and Andrew Campbell of Loudoun. This helps to confirm that modern day [[Lambroughton]] was a barony. Pre-reformation and other old gravestones often recorded the occupation of the individual, especially if they had held important roles such a baron baillie.

==A list of moot hills, gallows hills, murder holes, their associated baronies and other details==
Records of these sites have often been lost & therefore the barony and other associations have only been made where the evidence is credible, backed up by written records, place names or by oral folklore.

===Scotland===

====Aberdeenshire====
*'''Court Hill''' (NJ 7075 4603), Braefoot. A small conical hill, entirely cultivated, situated on the south-west side of Braefoot. Tradition affirms this to have originally been an ancient seat of the baronial court hence the name.<ref name="RCAHMS"/> {{Coord|57.5035|-2.4898|name=Court Hill}}
*'''Gallowhill''', [[Banff, Aberdeenshire|Banff]]. In 1700 a Freebooter, James McPherson, was locked up in the tollbooth before being hanged. The clock in Banff was reputedly put forward one hour to ensure he was hanged before any possible reprieve arrived. He may have been hanged on the gallowhill.<ref name="Banff">{{Cite web|url=https://www.electricscotland.com/historic/grampian.html|title=Historic places to go - Grampian|website=www.electricscotland.com|access-date=21 January 2022|archive-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412043923/https://www.electricscotland.com/historic/grampian.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*'''Gallows Hill''' (NK 065 365). Parish of [[Cruden Bay|Cruden]]. A small hill where criminals were executed and where human skeletons have been found. A deep pool in the Water of Cruden opposite is where others were drowned. The moot hill must have been nearby.<ref name="RCAHMS"/> {{Coord|57.4188|-1.8934|name=Gallows Hill}}
*'''Moat-head''', Auchterless. Near the parish church. The Gallow hill is nearby.<ref name="Cairngorm">{{Cite web|url=https://www.electricscotland.com/history/|title=Scottish History|website=www.electricscotland.com|access-date=21 January 2022|archive-date=19 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211219153627/https://www.electricscotland.com/history/|url-status=live}}</ref> {{Coord|57.4629|-2.4784|name=Moat-head}}
*'''Moot Hill''', [[Ellon, Aberdeenshire|Ellon]]. The site of the court of the Celtic [[Mormaer]]s and the Norman [[Earl of Buchan|Earls of Buchan]] is located next to the Riverside car park and today is marked with a small monument and seating area.<ref name="Ellon">{{Cite web|url=http://www.atap.org.uk/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070124105723/http://www.atap.org.uk/ellon/index.htm|url-status=dead|title = Ellon | archivedate = 24 January 2007|website= Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership|publisher=The Aberdeenshire Towns Partnership}}</ref> {{Coord|57.36675|-2.06815|name=Moot Hill}}

====Angus====
*'''Courthill''' (NO 6740 5140). Parish of Lunan. The nearby farm preserves the name of the moot hill where the barons of [[Red Castle, Angus|Red Castle]] held their courts.<ref name="RCAHMS"/> {{Coord|56.6533|-2.5333|name=Courthill}}
*'''Court Hillock''' (NO 3798 5415), [[Kirriemuir]]. The Court Hillock, called a 'mote' in 1909, had been levelled by 1884.<ref name="RCAHMS"/> {{Coord|56.67498|-3.01374|name=Court Hillock}}
*'''Gallows Knowe''', Lintrathen. This artificial mound is about 45 yards in diameter and between 12 and {{convert|15|ft|m}} high. Three stone cists have been found within the knowe.<ref name ="Fenton">Fenton, William (1939–1940). ''A Short Cist recently exposed in the Gallows Knowe, Lintrathten, Angus.'' Proc Soc Antiq Scot. Vol. LXXIV – Vol.II. pp. 135–136.</ref>
*'''Gardyne Law''', near Gardyne Castle, {{convert|1+1/4|mi|km}} southwest of [[Friockheim]] and {{convert|3|mi|km}} east of Letham. An old man told [[Thomas Lyel]], Esq., that he saw two Highlanders, taken with stolen cattle, judged, condemned, and hanged on the Law of Gardyne.<ref name="Moot Hills">{{Cite web|url=http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_025/25_198_256.pdf|title=Moot Hills.|access-date=23 April 2009|archive-date=19 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719032336/http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_025/25_198_256.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Argyll and Bute====
*'''Court Hills or Gallowhill''' (NS 3521 8793). Parish of [[Luss]]. About 1{{fraction|3|4}} miles from Rossdhu, are two natural mounds which were formerly the Courthill and Gallowshill of the [[Clan Colquhoun]] and the barony of Luss may still be seen near the gamekeeper's house about {{convert|2|mi|km|0}} from Rossdhu.<ref name="RCAHMS"/> {{Coord|56.0558|-4.64790|name=Court Hills}}
*'''Tom a' Mhòid''' or the '''Hill of the Court''' (NS2587). Shandon. Faslane Castle was the early caput or base of the [[mormaer]]s of Lennox. An ancient dun close to Tom a' Mhòid, may have been an earlier seat of power. The Scottish Gaelic "Sean Dùn", "Old Dun" could have been anglicised as "Shandon". The hill could have been the gallow hill or the hill where the mormaer's court met.<ref name="auto"/>

====Ayrshire (East)====
*'''Bowie's Munt''' – [[Kilmaurs]], East Ayrshire. A large wooded mound on the outskirts of the village, surrounded by a circular ditch and bank. The farms nearby are known are Knocklandside and Knocklandhill. {{Coord|<!-- huh? 55.3818.1|-4.3234.4, using assumed meaning -->55.3818|-4.3234|name=Bowie's Munt}}
*'''Castle Lowrie''' – Barony of Loudoun, [[Darvel]]. Recorded as a natural mote hill, a meeting-place on the [[River Irvine|Glen Water]], near Bankhead Farm.<ref name=autogenerated5>McLeod, Alex. G. (Edit), ''The Book of Old Darvel and Some of its Famous Sons.'' Pub. Walker & Connell, Darvel. p. 64.</ref>
*'''Chapel Hill''', [[Chapeltoun]], [[Stewarton]]. {{convert|20|ft|m|0}} high on the low side and {{convert|7|ft|m}} on the high side. A flat top, 22 paces in diameter.<ref name="Smith85">Smith, John (1895). Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire. Pub. Elliot Stock. p. 85.</ref> A likely Moot Hill as it is unclear where the chapel stood. Also known as the Monk's graveyard and Jockey's cap, as it was used as a viewing platform to watch horse races at festival times. A Moot Hill of Chapelton is recorded in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland as being specifically excluded by King James from a grant of lands including Lainshaw, Robertland and Gallowberry to Alexander Hume in the 15th century.<ref name="SHS">Stewarton Historical Society records (2006).</ref>{{Coord|<!-- ??? 55.3953.3|-4.32319.3--> 55.3953|-4.32319|name=Chapel Hill}}
*'''Court Hill''', a short distance to the south of [[Barony and Castle of Corsehill|Aiket Castle]]. Cunninghame family. [[Dunlop, East Ayrshire|Dunlop]] area.<ref name="Smith84">Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. Pub. Elliot Stock. p. 84.</ref> The name applies to the vestiges of a small hill, which appears to have been much higher at one time. It is situated in the corner of a small field near the house called Aiket Mill. Local informants stated that this was where the feues due to the proprietor of Aiket Castle (NS34NE 1) were paid.<ref name="RCAHMS"/>
*'''Craighead Lea or Law hill''', near [[Lugton]]. This is said to have been a place of trial and it had an arrangement of boulders on its summit until a farmer moved them to aid ploughing of the area.<ref name="RCAHMS"/><ref name="Smith84"/>
*'''Craigie Moot''' – Smith records that a moot hill existed near the village of [[Craigie Castle, Ayrshire|Craigie]].<ref name="Smith128"/>
[[File:Judge's Hill woods.JPG|thumb|The Judge's Hill near Galston, just visible through the woods.]]
*'''Cumnock Moot Hill''' was located on a peninsular of land that lies in a bend of the [[River Lugar]] above the Bank Viaduct on the old G&SWR line to Carlisle. The gallows hill was located nearby at the Martyr's Grave, which is now a cemetery. [[Cumnock]] women it seems were placed in a sack which was tied at the mouth and they were then placed into one of the deep pools in the Lugar. No tradition of a drowning pit on dry land has survived.<ref name="L44" />
*'''Dalmellington Moat Hill''' (NS 482 058). [[Dalmellington]]'s mound is 154 paces in circumference at the base, surrounded by a ditch, {{convert|9|ft|m|0}} broad at the bottom, and {{convert|4|ft|m|0}} deep. Measured from the bottom of this ditch, the mound is {{convert|28|ft|m|0}} high; the top is 22 paces in diameter, the sides are very steep. A wooden stairs was fitted to the top in Smith's time (1890s).<ref name="RCAHMS"/> He records that it may have been a fort at one time as well as being used as a moot hill later. A Gillies Knowe, possibly a corruption of Gallows Knowe, is nearby.<ref name="Smith169">Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. Pub. Elliot Stock. p. 169.</ref> {{Coord|55.3228|-4.394|name=Dalmellington Moat Hill}}
*'''Greenhill''' (NS 401 391), [[Knockentiber]]. The base is 140 paces in diameter; it is {{convert|15|ft|6|in|m}} high, and measures 25 opaces across the circular top.<ref name="Smith95">Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. Pub. Elliot Stock. p. 95.</ref> {{Coord|55.6191|-4.5407|name=Greenhill}}
*'''Highlangside Moot hill''' –  Smith records that a moot hill existed here in the [[Craigie Castle, Ayrshire|Craigie]] district.<ref name="Smith128"/>
[[File:Judge's Hill near Galston map.jpg|thumb|A map of the Judge's Hill site.]]

*'''Judge's Hill''' (NS 519 386) – Barony of Loudoun. Shown on the old OS maps under this name. A possible man made 'Moot Hill' near to the old Loudoun Castle, sometimes called Arclowdun, standing on the Hag Burn. Judge's Hill stands close to the Hag or Bowhill Burn. This may well be the Justice hill for the Campbell's of Earl's of Loudoun. A Gallows Hill is situated near the upper reaches of the Burn Anne above Shinny Hill. Additional evidence is suggested by the name 'Muttonhole Strip' that lies nearby and may derive from 'Mort-toun-hole', the place where women were drowned when sentenced by a barony court.<ref name="The History of Fettercairn"/>{{Coord|55.61813|-4.35233|name=Judge's Hill}}
*'''Judgement Seat''' (NS 463 324), in the Carnell estate woods, Fiveways. It overlooks the Cessnock Water. It is close to the old tower of Cairnhill, now Carnell. The nearby Dollar Hill Mound ([[Dule Tree|Hill of Grief]]) may have been the Gallows Hill associated with the Judgement Seat.<ref name="RCAHMS"/><ref name="Smith127">Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. Pub. Elliot Stock. pp. 127–128.</ref><ref name="Carnell">Findlay-Hamilton, G. D. (1931), Carnell, 11/07/1931. Annals of the Kilmarnock Glenfield Ramblers Society. Jubilee Number. 1934. p. 148.</ref> {{Coord|55.561|-4.4386|name=Judgement Seat}}
*'''Judgement Seat''' in [[Riccarton, Ayrshire|Riccarton]] near [[Kilmarnock]]. A Kirk (church), built in 1823, now stands on the old justice mound.<ref name="Smith130">Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. Pub. Elliot Stock. p. 130.</ref><ref name="Adamson">Adamson, Archibald (1875) ''Rambles round Kilmarnock''. Pub T. Stevenson. Kilmarnock. p. 50.</ref> {{Coord|55.5952|-4.4964|name=Judgement Seat}}
*'''Justice Hill''' or '''Judas hill''' overlooking the Craufurdland Water. Near Dean castle, [[Kilmarnock]]. The [[Clan Boyd|Boyds]], Lords of Kilmarnock, had this moot hill and their gallows was at Gallows-Knowe which stood in Wellington street, Kilmarnock. It is also said to be the burial site of men killed in battle.<ref name="McKay">McKay, Archibald (1880). ''The History of Kilmarnock''. Pub. Kilmarnock. P. 171–172.</ref><ref name="Adamson96">Adamson, Archibald (1875) ''Rambles round Kilmarnock''. Pub T. Stevenson. Kilmarnock. p. 96.</ref>
*'''Knockenlaw''' (NS 425 396), Barony of Roberton, [[Kilmarnock]].<ref name="Smith95"/> A final traditional use of the mound was in the holding of a 'court' at Knockenlaw by the Earl of Glencairn when he was attempting to claim the Lordship of Kilmarnock from the Boyd's. In the event the supporters of the Boyd's turned up in force and the Earl had to abandon his attempt. A powder magazine was later built into the mound, of which little now remains (2007). {{Coord|55.6244|-4.5029|name=Knockenlaw}}
*'''Knockmarloch''' in the [[Craigie Castle, Ayrshire|Craigie]] district. Smith records that a moot hill existed here.<ref name="Smith128"/>
*'''Law Mount''' (NS 411 447), Barony of [[Lambroughton]] and / or [[Barony and Castle of Corsehill|Lainshaw]] by Stewarton. It is also known as Moat Hill<ref name="Aitken">Aitken, John (1829). ''Survey of the Parishes of Cunningham''. Pub. Beith.</ref> or a Moot Hill<ref name="Smith85"/> overlooking Lainshaw House and above Castleton (previously Over or High Castleton). It is an artificial mound which was thought to have a bailey and therefore be a castle motte, hence the name of the farms. Linge<ref name="Linge">Linge, John (1987). "Re-discovering a landscape: the barrow and motte in North Ayrshire." ''Proc Soc Antiq Scot.'' V.117. p. 28.</ref> is of the opinion that the supposed bailey, clearly visible form the road under the appropriate light conditions, is a natural geographic feature. The mound is {{convert|19|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} in diameter and {{convert|3.5|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} high. At the top its diameter is {{convert|12|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} and seen by satellite imagery it is clearly too small to have been a motte. The secondary use of the mound and fits with its more recent local names, is that it was the site of the Justice Hill where proclamations of the [[Lainshaw Castle]] or possibly the Lambroughton Baronial Court's judgements were made. {{Coord|55.6697|-4.5281|name=Law Mount}}
*'''Main Castle''', Barony of Loudoun, [[Darvel]]. Recorded as an artificial mote hill, a meeting-place in a bend of the [[River Irvine|Avon Water]], where tribal laws were made and open-air courts of justice were held.<ref name="McLeod"/>
*'''Mote''', now Carmelbank farm, Crosshouse. [[Thorntoun house and estate|Carmel Bank]] House was formerly known as 'Mot' or 'Mote' House and was the site of a Moot Hill, possibly for the barony of [[Thorntoun Estate|Thorntoun]].<ref name="McNaught">*McNaught, Duncan (1912). ''Kilmaurs Parish and Burgh''. Pub. A. Gardner.</ref>
*'''Shinny Hill''' (NS 525 367). [[Galston, East Ayrshire|Galston]]. A striking hill with a nearby cairn and Gallow Law overlooking it. The Scots name 'Shinicle' refers to a [[Halloween]] bonfire, but no local traditions appear to record this activity.<ref name="Warrack">Warrack, Alexander (1982). ''Chambers Scots Dictionary''. Chambers. {{ISBN|0-550-11801-2}}.</ref> Saint Anne's well and the Burn Anne are nearby. {{Coord|55.6015|-4.3427|name=Shinny Hill}}
*'''Tinkers Hill'''. [[Riccarton, Ayrshire]]. A wooded mound at the edge of Riccarton Moss that was once the moot hill of the Barony of Haining-Ross.
*'''Polkelly Castle''' (NS 4568 4524). The Gallow's Hill of [[Polkelly Castle]] was identified by a lone pine tree and King James V is said to have administered justice here with the hanging of 17 men.<ref>Love (2009), Page 62</ref>

====Ayrshire (North)====
*'''Blair Court Hill''' (NS305481), Dalry. The hill overlooks the Bombo Burn and lies close to the site of the original Blair Castle now represented by Blair House and it lay within the ancient Barony of Blair.
*'''[[Castle Knowe, Kilruskin|Castle Knowe]]''' (NS20365081), North Kilruskin, [[West Kilbride]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/41231/castle-knowe|title=Castle Knowe &#124; Canmore|website=canmore.org.uk|access-date=26 February 2016|archive-date=11 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311115127/https://canmore.org.uk/site/41231/castle-knowe|url-status=live}}</ref>
*'''Court Hill''' (NS 292 495), [[Dalry, Ayrshire|Dalry]]. Barony of Ardrossan.<ref name="Dobie">Dobie, James (1876) ''Cuninghame topographised by Timothy Pont''. Pub. John Tweed, Glasgow. p. 34</ref><ref name="Smith69">Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. Pub. Elliot Stock. p. 69.</ref> A barrow and a moot hill. Previously {{convert|290|ft|m|0}} in circumference, {{convert|20|ft|m|0}} high and the diameter of the flat top was {{convert|38|ft|m|0}}. Covered in pit refuse and then excavated and the results published. It had a wooden castle on its summit at one point in its history. A Gallow's stone is said to have stood a short distance to the east of the hill.<ref name="Smith70">Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. Pub. Elliot Stock. p. 70.</ref>
*'''Court Hill''', near Hill of [[Beith]] in the Barony of Beith. Dobie states that the Abbot of Kilwinning used it to administered justice to his vassals & tenants. It is a sub-oval, flat-topped mound, measuring {{convert|15.0|by|14.5|m|ft}} over all, {{convert|10.0|by|8.0|m|ft}} across the top, and {{convert|2.0|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} high, situated at the foot of a small valley. A number of large stones are visible in the sides of the mound. It is turf-covered, and probably situated on a low outcrop, it is mostly an artificial work. It pre-dates the channelling of the burn which detours around it, the mound was probably isolated in this once marshy outflow of the former Boghall Loch (see NS35SE 14).<ref name="RCAHMS"/> It does not seem to lie in the area identified by Smith.<ref name="Smith81">Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. Pub. Elliot Stock. p. 81.</ref>
{{Commons|Beith Moot Hill}}
*'''Giffordland''', [[Dalry, Ayrshire|Dalry]]. The small Barony of [[Giffordland, Ayrshire|Giffordland]] was held by the Giffords and later the Craufurd, Blair and Morris families.(Map reference: NS 2662 4893)
*'''Glen Mount''', [[West Kilbride]].
*'''Green Hill''', [[Largs]]. Known at one time as Moot Hill because it may have been used as a court or law area moot by local lairds during the Medieval times.<ref name="Largs">{{Cite web|url=http://www.largsonline.co.uk/3sisters.html|title=The Three Sisters: a historical monument in Largs Ayrshire Scotland, connected with Sir Thomas Brisbane who later moved to Australia|website=www.largsonline.co.uk|access-date=9 October 2007|archive-date=10 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010013147/http://www.largsonline.co.uk/3sisters.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Giffordland Moot.JPG|thumb|260px|A likely semi-natural moot hill in the Giffordland Glen]]
*'''Green hill''', [[Barony and Castle of Giffen|Barony of Giffen]], [[Barrmill]]. The moot hill stood near to Greenhill farm.<ref name="Dobie163">Dobie, James (1876). Pont's Cunninghame topographized 1604–1608 with continuations and illustrative notices (1876). Pub. John Tweed. p. 163.</ref> This artificial mound was the site where proclamations of the Giffen Castle Baronial Court's judgements were made. No sign of the Moot hill seems to survive, however a bridge near to Greenhill is marked as 'Tappethillock', meaning a flat-topped hillock, which may refer to it.{{Coord|55.723887|-4.589461|name=Green Hill}}
*'''Hutt Knowe or Hut Knol''' (NS 375 441), [[Chapeltoun|Bonshaw]], Barony of Bollingshaw. 'Huit' in Scots is a heap or stack.<ref name="Warrack"/> It also known as Bonshaw or Bollingshaw Mound, {{convert|17|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} in diameter and {{convert|2.7|m|ft|1|abbr=on}} high, variously described as a mounded corn-kiln or lime kiln.<ref name="Linge"/> Corn-drying kilns were often built into sloping ground or existing mounds.<ref name="Fairhurst">Fairhurst, Horace (1967–68). "Rosal: a Deserted Township in Strath Naver, Sutherland." ''Proc Soc Nat Hist'' V. 100. p. 152.</ref> It is said to have large integral basal stones and was described in 1890<ref name="Smith">Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. Pub. Elliot Stock.</ref> as having culverts or 'penns' in its sides, although these are not visible today. This mound has been excavated on several occasions without enough evidence being uncovered to determine its purpose. It lies close to the Glazert; Stacklawhill is nearby. A limekiln and a rarely mentioned [[Ice house (building)|ice house]] are also present on the site and this seems to have resulted in some confusion arising over the description of Hutt Knowe. Satellite imagery clearly shows that the mound stands on a raised irregularly shaped platform.<ref name="Flashearth">{{Cite web |url=http://www.flashearth.com/ |title=Satellite Imagery |access-date=4 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225223230/http://www.flashearth.com/ |archive-date=25 February 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{Coord|55.3949|-4.333|name=Hutt Knowe}}
*'''Irvine Moor''' had a possible moot hill with a gallows hill nearby. It was 20 paces in diameter, {{convert|2|ft|6|in|m}} high on one side and {{convert|13|ft|8|in|m}} on the other. Gallows muir is one name given to the site on the older maps of the area.<ref name="RCAHMS"/><ref name="Smith124">Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. Pub. Elliot Stock. p. 124.</ref>
*'''Knockrivoch''' (NS 253 451), Saltcoats.
*'''Law''', [[Auchentiber|Auchenmade]]. This moot hill lay half a mile to the east of Pencote Hill, near Auchenmade & had been ploughed out by 1895.<ref name="RCAHMS"/><ref name="Smith72">Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. Pub. Elliot Stock. p. 72.</ref>
*'''Law hill''' – [[Symington, North Ayrshire|Symington]]. Barony of Symington. This moot lay at the bottom of the village and was completely levelled as part of improvements, by a Mr. Boyd in around 1860. Iron arrowheads and combs of horn were found during the demolition.<ref name="Paterson">[[James Paterson (journalist)|Paterson, James]] (1863). ''History of the Counties of Ayr and Wigton''. Vol.1.-Kyle. Pub. James Stillie. Edinburgh. p. 737.</ref>
*'''Law Mound''', twelve paces in diameter, at Threepwood near Barcraigs Reservoir.<ref name="Smith84"/>
*'''Lawthorn Mount''' (NS 346 407), [[Perceton]]. [[Lawthorn]] was also a cairn or barrow. It is 21 paces in diameter at the base, and {{convert|14|ft|m|0}} in diameter on the top, the height being {{convert|9|ft|8|in|m}} It is said by oral tradition to have been a Justice hill. [[Stanecastle]] castle is nearby.<ref name="Smith123">Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. Pub. Elliot Stock. p. 123.</ref>
*'''Mound Wood''' near Kennox House and moss. An oval mound with drystone walling around it. Gallowayford is situated nearby on the Glazert Water.<ref name="RCAHMS"/> {{Coord|55.4037|-4.3450|name=Mound Wood}}
*'''Mount''' (NS 202 585), [[Largs]]. Situated near the old church of [[Largs]]. Said by some to be the moot hill for Largs, but others see it as a burial mound for Norwegians (Norse).<ref name="Dobie35"/>
*'''Stacklawhill''' near Bonshaw. Barony of Bollingshaw. [[Stewarton]]. A moot or gallows hill-like wooded mound ([[Dule Tree]]) set on high ground above the Hutt Knowe mound at Bonshaw. Hutt means heap or stack, so this may be the gallow hill of the stack law, i.e. Hutt Knowe Moot. The Glazert Water runs nearby.<ref name="Smith85"/> {{Coord|55.3931|-4.3520|name=Stacklawhill}}

====Ayrshire (South)====
*'''Law Hill''' – The Fullartons of Fullarton house, [[Troon]], dispensed justice at the Law Hill which was close to their mansion. Farming activity reduced the moot hill and almost levelled it, so that a ''Pillar'' was erected there to mark the spot. This pillar was later removed and rebuilt with embellishments at the back gate of Monklands on the Isle O'Pins Road.<ref name="Mackintosh">Mackintosh, Ian M. (1969), ''Old Troon and District''. Kilmarnock: George Outram. p. 60.</ref>
*'''Barons Stone''' – Parish of [[Girvan]]. At [[Killochan Castle]] this stone, an erratic, once formed part of a cliff, {{convert|2000|ft|m}} over its present site, far away among the hills of Loch Doon. In historical times, it formed the "Hill of Justice" of the barons of Killochan, where they mustered their men, planned their raids, shared their booty, and hanged troublesome prisoners.<ref name="Killochan">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ayrshirehistory.org.uk/Shorts/killochan.htm|title=Killochan Castle|website=www.ayrshirehistory.org.uk|access-date=8 October 2007|archive-date=19 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819152106/http://www.ayrshirehistory.org.uk/Shorts/killochan.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>Dougall, Charles S. (1904). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=azNDAAAAIAAJ The Burns Country] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223073704/http://books.google.com/books?id=azNDAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover |date=23 February 2014 }}''. London: Adam & Charles Black. p. 78.</ref>
*'''Court Knowe''', [[Ballantrae]]. ({{gbmappingsmall|NX 121 836}} {{Coord|55.1111|-4.9474|name=Court Knowe}})
*'''Hall of Auchincross or Court Hill''' (NS 5834 1407). Parish: [[New Cumnock]]. A court knowe near the Hall of Auchincross, on which criminals are said to have been tried by the laird of Auchincross. A low, rounded knoll, roughly {{convert|30|by|20|m|ft|abbr=on}}, under pasture. The farmer at Hall of Auchincross stated that its profile was once sharper but that it has been reduced in recent years through land improvement.<ref name="RCAHMS"/> {{Coord|55.4001|-4.2385|name=Hall of Auchincross}}
*'''Hill of Justice''' (NX 185 980), see '''Knockushion''', [[Girvan]].{{Coord|55.2427|-4.8565|name=Hill of Justice}} [[File:Hutteknow.jpg|right|thumb|180px|The Hutt Knowe as drawn by Smith<ref name="Smith85"/> in 1895]]
*'''Knockushion''' (NX 1850 9807). Also 'Knockcushan', this Knoll or Hill of Justice in [[Girvan]] was a Law or Court Hill.<ref name="Smith215">Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. Pub. Elliot Stock. p. 215.</ref> The existence of the mound is now marked by a modern pillar bearing the following inscription:-"Knockushion" (Hill of Justice) – From time immemorial the seat of the head – courts of the ancient jurisdiction of Carrick. King Robert the Bruce, Earl of Carrick, held court here and granted charter to the Friars of Ayre". The rest of the inscription is weathered away. No mound is visible at the site.<ref name="RCAHMS"/> {{Coord|55.2433|-4.8565|name=Knockushion}} [[Girvan Steeple]]'s name comes from the Gaelic "Olladh Stiom Paidh" and relates to the phrase "Great Circle of Justice" which is a similar meaning to Knockcushan Street, upon which the tower sits.
*'''Lawhill'''. Parish of Cumnock. In the seventeenth century, a piece of land in the Skerrington property was in at least one instance called Lawhill,<ref>''The Clan Campbell Clan Campbell: Abstracts of Entries Relating to Campbells ... from the Campbell collection formed by Sir Duncan Campbell of Barcaldine and Glenure.'' ed. Henry Paton. Vol. 5. Edinburgh: O. Schulze. 1913. p. 97</ref> though the same piece of land was elsewhere called Lonehill,<ref>''The Clan Campbell Clan Campbell: Abstracts of Entries Relating to Campbells ... from the Campbell collection formed by Sir Duncan Campbell of Barcaldine and Glenure.'' ed. Henry Paton. Vol. 5. Edinburgh: O. Schulze. 1913. p. 67</ref> Clocklounie,<ref>''Decennial Indexes to Services of Heirs in Scotland.'' Volume I (1720–9), Sarah Campbell served heir special to her father Charles Campbell of Glasnock</ref> Clochlouie,<ref>''Particular Register of Sasines Minute Books.'' Ayr, No. 2: 1692–1724</ref> and Clockloie.<ref>Particular Register of Sasines Minute Books. Ayr, No. 3: 1724–1744</ref>
*'''Moat of Alloway'''. The Magistrates of Ayr appear from the records of the town to have frequently held Courts of Justice for the trial of petty cases, according to their charter, on its summit.<ref name="Mote Hills">{{Cite web|url=http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_025/25_198_256.pdf|title=Mote Hills|access-date=23 April 2009|archive-date=19 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719032336/http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_025/25_198_256.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
*'''Mootehill'''. Parish of Cumnock. A half-merkland of the two merklands of Horsecleuch in the parish of Cumnock (now Old Cumnock) was as late as the seventeenth century named Mootehill,<ref>''The Clan Campbell Clan Campbell: Abstracts of Entries Relating to Campbells ... from the Campbell collection formed by Sir Duncan Campbell of Barcaldine and Glenure.'' ed. Henry Paton. Vol. 5. Edinburgh: O. Schulze. 1913. p. 70</ref> earlier Mwthill.<ref>''Testament Testamentar and Inventar of Johnne Campbell in Polquhertour, Sheriffdom of Ayr.'' Commissariot of Edinburgh, CC8/8/29.</ref>
*'''Mote-hill'''. Helenton, near [[Symington, South Ayrshire|Symington]]. Barony of Helenton. Some ruins were present on its summit.<ref name="Paterson"/>
*'''Tarbolton Mote, Hoodshill or Torbol''' ({{gbmappingsmall|NS 4323 2734}}). Parish of Tarbolton. A fairly substantial mound on a natural prominence on the outskirts of the village. It is classified as a motte and bailey. The artificial mound is {{convert|10|ft|m|0}} high, {{convert|25|yd|m|0}} wide at the base and was the Court Hill of the Barony of Tarbolton.<ref>''Archaeological & Historical Collections relating to the counties of Ayrshire & Wigtown''. Edinburgh: Ayr Wig Arch Soc. 1880. p. 138.</ref> It was formerly called the Mote, but now is more frequently named Hoodshill, from a schoolmaster called Hood, whose pupils played on it. It is the only common attached to the village of Tarbolton, and a bonfire was lit on it annually on the night preceding the June Fair up until at least the 1860s.<ref name="RCAHMS"/> A Gallow Hill is situated nearby overlooking what was the old Coilsfield estate. Paterson records that the moot hill bonfire was built from fuel collected from every house and then placed on a circular altar or fireplace of turf. He states that Tarbolton translates as ''the town at the Hill where Baal was worshipped.''<ref name=autogenerated1>Paterson, James (1863). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=9l0LAAAAYAAJ History of the Counties of Ayr and Wigton]''. Vol. 1. – Kyle. Edinburgh: James Stillie. p. 750.</ref> The hall built on this mount was the chief messuage of the Barony, where seisin was invested.<ref name="Mote Hills"/>{{Coord|55.5146|-4.4844|name=Tarbolton Mote}}

=====Some Ayrshire moot hills=====
<gallery>
Image:Gallowayford.jpg|A view of the Glazert at Gallowayford.
Image:Woodmound2007.JPG|A distant view of the enigmatic Mound Wood on Kennox Moss in 2007.
Image:Chapelhill1.JPG|The [[Chapeltoun|Chapel Moot Hill]] from the Annick Water.
Image:Lawthornjustice.JPG|Lawthorn mount Justice Hill.
File:Law Mount Castleton Farm.jpg|The Moot Hill or Law Mount above the River Annick near Castleton Farm.
Image:Stacklawhill1.JPG|The possible moot or gallows hill at Stacklawhill.
Image:Stacklawhill2.JPG|A close up view of [[Chapeltoun|Stacklawhill]].
</gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Craiglaw.jpg|[[Barony and Castle of Corsehill|Craighead Law]], possibly a Justice or Moot Hill.
Image:Bowiesmunt5.JPG|The Knockland Hill, locally referred to in [[Kilmaurs]] as 'Bowie's Munt.'
Image:Bowiesmunt1.JPG|Bowie's munt from Knockland Hill road.
Image:Bowiesmunt3.JPG|A view inside Bowie's munt.
Image:Beith Court Hill view.JPG|The Court Hill at [[Beith]].
File:The Blair Court Hill from the south-east, Dalry, North Ayrshire, Scotland.jpg|The Blair Court Hill.
</gallery>

====Borders====
*'''Court Hill''' is marked on the OS map, lying close to Dawyck House near Stobo village.

====Carrick====
Smith states that there were no moot hills in Carrick.<ref name="Smith181">Smith, John (1895). ''Prehistoric Man in Ayrshire''. Pub. Elliot Stock. p. 181.</ref>

====Dumfries and Galloway====
[[File:Mote of Urr, Galloway.jpg|left|thumb|250px|The [[Motte of Urr]].]]
[[File:Monreith Cross.JPG|right|thumb|200px|The Monreith Cross with signs of the attachment of the old judicial [[jougs]] (a metal punishment collar).]]
*'''Barnside Hill''' was the place of execution for the [[regality]] and barony of Lag in Nithsdale. Sir Robert Grierson, as stated, was the last laird to try, condemn and execute a person in Nithsdale, circa 1697.<ref name="Grose, Francis 1797 p. 154"/>
*'''Court Hill''' (NX 815 929). Parish of Tynron. A small hill where the Courts of the barony of Aird were held.<ref name="RCAHMS"/>{{Coord|55.2161|-3.8641|name=Court Hill}}
*'''Court Hill''' (NX 3765 4275). Parish of [[Glasserton]]. A considerable hill on the farm of Fell near [[Mochrum]], the site of the laird's dwelling before the Maxwells built Monreith House. Mr Cumming says that it has been handed down by tradition that a court of justice had been held here in ancient times by the Druids hence its name.<ref name="RCAHMS"/>{{Coord|54.7534|-4.5242|name=Court Hill}} The Monreith Cross used to stand upon it until it was removed to Monreith House and finally to the [[Whithorn]] Museum.
*'''[[Motte of Urr]]'''. The great judicial centre of the [[Lords of Galloway|Kings of Galloway]], covering the lands below the waters of the River [[Cree]].<ref>Grose, Francis (1797). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=Ai0DAAAAYAAJ The Antiquities of Scotland]''. High Holborn: Hooper and Wigstead. Vol. 2 pp. 181–82.</ref>
*'''Tinwald''' (NY 0030 8151) – alternative Names: Tynwald; Motte of Tinwald; Tinwald Motte; Tinwald Mote. A bailey or motte.<ref name="RCAHMS"/>{{Coord|55.1179|-3.5647|name=Tinwald}}

====East Dunbartonshire====
*'''Mugdock Moot Hill''' – Prior to the early 18th century, the Moot Hill was an island on [[Mugdock Country Park|Mugdock]] Loch. The loch was drained between 1710 and 1714 to claim land and construct avenues for the newly developing Craigend Estate. Gallowhill is nearby. Before 1747 prisoners of Mugdock Castle's barony jail were rowed out to Moot Island for the trial, en route to the gallows at Gallowhill if they were convicted. Gallowhill is located close to the Visitor Centre. In the SW trench the rock fell away quickly into deep peat deposits. A drystone revetment ran alongside the edge of the mound, which had been interpreted as a landing place or quay. Excavation and survey revealed that this was a stock-proof dyke, probably of 19th-century date.<ref name="RCAHMS"/> The island was renamed Moot Hill when the loch was drained and became a feature for residents and visitors to Craigend House as it was, and still is, situated close to the main avenue. Excavation work at Moot Hill carried out by [[Glasgow University]] in 2003 confirmed that Moot Hill is made of solid rock and has deposits of dark coloured peat covering it.

====Fife====
*'''Moat Hill''' – Cupar. The Burgh Survey states that, through the years, it has been known as Moot Hill, Mote Hill, Cam Hill and Mons Placiti. Sibbald noted in the 18th century that the word ''cam'’ in Gaelic meant crooked and was very descriptive of the long, winding ridge of which Castle Hill formed a part. The Reporter in the Statistical Account of the Burgh suggested that it should have been styled Mote Hill as it was probably the place where the Justiciar of Fife had his courts and published his enactments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/CustomPages/CustomPage.aspx?PageID=17707|title=Cupar, Fife website.}}{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*'''Dalginch, Markinch'''. A mound at Northhall, Markinch is now believed to be the site of ''Dalginch'' mentioned in the ''Regiam Majestatem''<ref>Stair Society 1947</ref> as the capital place of Fife where judgements were enacted. It was once a mound in the crook of the Markinch Burn and is now a cemetery. The name was transferred to the wider barony and subsequently to a 19th-century farmhouse about a kilometre to the east.<ref>Dr. Taylor, S. with Márcus, G. The Place-Names of Fife Vol 2 p397</ref> The judicial function of the location appears to have been assumed by Cupar during the 13th century.

====Glasgow====
*'''Doomster Hill''' – Parish of [[Govan]] NS 554 658, a large earthen mound with a stepped profile and level summit.<ref name="British Archaeology">{{Cite web |url=http://www.britarch.ac.uk/BA/ba27/ba27feat.html#driscoll |title=British Archaeology Magazine |access-date=9 October 2007 |archive-date=14 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714153145/http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba27/ba27feat.html#driscoll |url-status=live }}</ref> It stood near the [[river Clyde]], north of the present Govan Cross. It was removed in the early 19th-century and Reid's Dyeworks erected on the site. In 1996, a team from Channel 4's Time Team programme carried out a dig at the site. They suggested that it could be a 12th-century Norman motte. The 'Doom' was the name given to the reading of the sentence of the court by the Deemster of the Baronial court. {{Coord|55.8636|-4.3121|name=Doomster Hill}}

====Highland====
*'''Court Hill''' (NH 7356 5762), [[Rosemarkie]]. An apparently artificial mound of nearly a circular form, and level on the top. It is probably where the manor courts were held. {{Coord|57.5908|-4.1168|name=Court Hill}}
*'''Courthill''', [[Kishorn]]. A supposed moot-hill lies north of the burial-ground and chapel of Saint Donnan.
*'''Moot Hill''', [[Dingwall]]. The "D" of Dingwall is the Norse rune which represents the sound of "th", Dingwall being "thingvollr", the place of assembly of the Norse "thing" court. That court met on an earthen mound on a site which today is the Cromartie Car Park, adjacent to St Clement's kirkyard and the historic parish church of Dingwall.<ref name="Dingwall">[http://www.andyblackall.co.uk/dingwall/history.htm Dingwall]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>{{Coord|57.6077|-4.42793|name=Moot Hill}}

====Inverclyde====
*'''Moot hill''', [[Kilmacolm]], near the [[River Gryffe]].

====Moray====
*'''Court Hillock''' (NJ 3815 6300), Upper Auchenreath. a cairn. Traditionally said to have been a hill of justice {{Coord|57.6526|-3.0380|name=Court Hillock}}.

====Perth and Kinross====
*'''Court Hill''' (NO ), Parish of Auchtergaven. An earthen mound {{convert|40|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} high, evidently artificial and traditionally the site of judicial courts held prior to 1745.{{Coord|56.4801|-3.4997|name=Court Hill}}
*'''Gallow's Hill''' above Milling Farm on the western shore of the [[Lake of Menteith]]. This bold knoll is supposed to have been the site of execution of the [[Earl of Menteith|Earls of Menteith]]. The last execution is said to have been of a young man; an unjust accusation having been levelled against him by the Earl of having stolen a horse.<ref name="Hutchison2">Hutchison, A. F. (1899), ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=4YILAAAAYAAJ The Lake of Menteith: Its Islands and Vicinity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219000454/http://books.google.com/books?id=4YILAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover |date=19 February 2014 }}''. Stirling: Eneas Mackay. p. 45.</ref>{{Coord|56|10|N|4|17|W|name=Lake of Menteith}}
*'''Loak Court Hill''' (NO ). Parish of Auchergaven. A Barrow. An earthen mound {{convert|40|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} high, evidently artificial and traditionally the site of judicial courts held prior to 1745.{{Coord|56.4801|-3.4997|name=Loak Court Hill}}
*'''Lonforgan or Hund Hill''' – Sir Patrick Gray as lord of the Barony of [[Longforgan]] held a baronial court here in 1385. The officials present were the same as those of the sovereign's courts.<ref>MacGeorge, Andrew (1880). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=iIQJAAAAIAAJ Old Glasgow. The Place and the People] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201220136/http://books.google.com/books?id=iIQJAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover |date=1 February 2014 }}''. Glasgow: Blackie & Son. p. 61.</ref>
*'''Moot Hill''', [[Struan, Perthshire|Struan]]. The assembly mound measures approx. {{convert|20|ft|m|adj=on}} high and is approx. {{convert|75|ft|m|abbr=on}} in diameter across the base and {{convert|55|ft|m|abbr=on}} across the top. It is generally held to be an early stronghold of the Chiefs of Clan Donnachaidh. A number of factors that suggest that it may be a moot.<ref name="Struan"/>
*'''Mote-hill''' or '''Torran Mhoid''' in Scottish Gaelic. Balliemore, near Castle Roy. The title of Laird of [[Abernethy, Perth and Kinross|Abernethy]] went with the possession of the moot hill and a story is told of one Earl of Moray who feued out all the other lands of Abernethy, but would not part with the moot hill, even if ''the top was covered with golden guineas''. Another story tells of a Baron Baillie of Balliemore who took earth from the local churchyard and spread it onto his fields. He was persuaded to stop but later died from [[apoplexy]] while on the moot hill, because although he had stopped stealing the earth, he was still stealing it in his heart and God had punished him accordingly. There was a ''drowning pool'' here where witches and female criminals were drowned.<ref name="Bailies"/><ref name="Abernethy">{{Cite web|url=https://www.electricscotland.com/history/cairngorm/8.htm|title=In the Shadow of Cairngorm - VIII. Lands and Land-holders|website=www.electricscotland.com|access-date=21 January 2022|archive-date=24 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424024759/https://www.electricscotland.com/history/cairngorm/8.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
*'''Prior's Meadow Mound''' at Port of Menteith. This small earth mound is supposed to have been formed from consecrated earth brought over from Ireland. This tradition may be linked to Colmaig, the old Irish saint and bishop who gave his name to [[Inchmahome]] island.<ref name="Hutchison">Hutchison, A. F. (1899), ''The Lake of Menteith: its islands and vicinity''. Pub. Eneas Mackay, Stirling. p. 40.</ref> This may have been the 'Hill of Justice' of the abbot who possessed baronial feudal rights.{{Coord|56|10|N|4|17|W|name=Lake of Menteith}}
*'''Scone Moot Hill'''. The mons placiti or [[Scone, Scotland|Scone]] mote hill is the inauguration site of the Scottish Kings. It is also called 'Boot Hill', possibly from an ancient tradition whereby emissaries swore fealty to their king by wearing the earth of their own lands in their foot-bindings or boots.<ref name="Scone">{{Cite web|url=https://www.scone-palace.net/palace/moothill.cfm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070807151718/http://www.scone-palace.net/palace/moothill.cfm|url-status=dead|title=The Moot Hill – Scone Palace|archivedate=7 August 2007|website=www.scone-palace.net}}</ref>
[[File:Moot hill.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[Scone, Scotland|Scone]] "Moot hill" and its chapel today.]]

====East Renfrewshire====
[[File:Castle Hill - Eaglesham.JPG|thumb|200px|Castle Hill at [[Eaglesham]]]]
*'''Castle Hill''', [[Eaglesham]]. Also known as the 'Deil's Planting'. A candidate to be the Moot Hill of the Barony of Eaglesham; a Gallowshill is located nearby. The Montgomerie family built Polnoon Castle and held the barony for several hundred years.
[[File:Courtshaw Wood, Castle Semple, Lochwinnoch, Ayrshire.jpg|thumb|200px|Courtshaw Wood and hill.]]

====Renfrewshire====
*'''Courtshaw Hill''' – near the site of the old Castle Semple mansion in the [[Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park]].

====Ross and Cromarty====
*'''Hill of Strife''', [[Ullinish]], Isle of Skye. Samuel Johnson was informed that this hill near Ulinish House was where justice used to be administered.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TDWCL3ujR6YC&dq=mons+placiti&pg=PA301|title=A Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland and the Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides|first1=Samuel|last1=Johnson|first2=James|last2=Boswell|date=21 January 1984|publisher=Penguin Books Limited|isbn=9780140432213|via=Google Books}}</ref>

====Stirling====
*'''Court Hill''', Duntreath, [[Strathblane]]. What used to be known as "the Court Hill", now Park Hill, rises on the east side of the Blane Valley. The top has been levelled, possibly for a fort, or a "mons placiti" or Moot Hill where courts of justice were held. The feudal privileges attached to Duntreath, indicate its importance.

===England===

====Buckinghamshire====
*'''[[History of Milton Keynes#Secklow Mound|Secklow Mound]]''' in [[Milton Keynes]] ({{gbmappingsmall|SP 851 391}} {{coord|52.0437|-0.7606|name=Seclow Mound}}).<ref>{{cite journal |title=Secklow Hundred Mound and Other Meeting Place Mounds in England | first1=R. A. |last1=Adkins |first2=M. R. |last2=Petchey |journal=Archaeological Journal |volume=141 |date=1984 |issue=1 |pages=243–251. |doi=10.1080/00665983.1984.11077777}}</ref>

====Cumbria====
*'''Carlisle Moothill'''. [[Patrick Fraser Tytler]]'s ''History of Scotland'', iv. 413, records that Lord Wharton, after his repulse in a raid up Nithsdale in 1547 held a Court at the Moothill beside Carlisle, and condemned ten of the Scottish "pledges" to be hanged.<ref name="Moot Hills"/>

====Northumberland====
*Gallows Knowe, [[Berwick-upon-Tweed]] ({{gbmappingsmall|NT 9938 5351}} {{Coord|55.7749|-2.01145|name=Gallows Knowe}}).

====Nottinghamshire====
*Spellow Hill, [[Radcliffe on Trent]] ({{gbmappingsmall|SK 6656 4014}} {{Coord|52.9545|-1.0107|name=Spellow hill}}).

====Wiltshire====
{{further|History of Wiltshire#Ancient moot places and meeting points}}
*[[Downton, Wiltshire#History|Downton Moot]] is no longer considered to be a moot hill. The earthworks in Downton Moot Garden are the remains of a 12th-century [[motte-and-bailey castle]].<ref>{{cite web|website=British History Online|title=Victoria County History – Wiltshire – Vol 11 pp19-77 – Parishes: Downton|editor-first=D.A.|editor-last=Crowley|author-first1=A.P.|author-last1=Baggs|author-first2=Elizabeth|author-last2=Crittall|author-first3=Jane|author-last3=Freeman|author-first4=Janet H|author-last4=Stevenson|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol11/pp19-77|publisher=University of London|date=1987|access-date=8 July 2016|archive-date=29 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829184532/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/wilts/vol11/pp19-77|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Merlin's Mount. In the grounds of [[Marlborough College]].<ref name="Bord">Bord, Janet & Colin (1973) ''Mysterious Britain''. Pub. Garnstone Press. {{ISBN|0-85511-180-1}} p. 88.</ref> {{Coord|51.416125|-1.738239|name=Merlin's Mount}}
*Swanborough Tump, meeting place of [[Swanborough Hundred]].<ref>{{cite PastScape|mnumber=221166|mname=Swanborough Tump|access-date=21 August 2018}}</ref>

====Yorkshire====
*Moat Hill [[Birstall, West Yorkshire|Birstall]]
*[[Rise, East Riding of Yorkshire|Rise]], Yorkshire ({{gbmappingsmall|TA 1460 4170}} {{Coord|53.8589|-0.2590|name=Rise}}).

===Isle of Man===
*[[Tynwald]], St John's {{Coord|54.2037|-4.6423|name=Tynwald}}. This stepped structure is probably of great antiquity and is nowadays thought originally to have been a burial mound of the Bronze Age.<ref name="IOM">{{Cite web |url=http://www.isle-of-man.com/information/tynwaldhill.shtml |title=Isle of Man |access-date=26 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022111756/http://www.isle-of-man.com/information/tynwaldhill.shtml |archive-date=22 October 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It is said to be formed of earth brought from each of the seventeen parishes of the [[Isle of Man]].<ref name="Tynwald">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcb.net/iom/tynhill.html |title=Tynwald Hill |access-date=26 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708214812/http://www.mcb.net/iom/tynhill.html |archive-date=8 July 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Scotland}}
* [[Fief]]
* [[Legal history]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{geoGroup}}

==External links==
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGbX-cn83ns Video footage of the Moot Hill, Gallows Knowe and Drowning Pit at Mugdock]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPZOWimGryw&feature=youtu.be Video footage of the Knockcushan Stone]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPdCtLv4UNU&feature=youtu.be Video on Feudal Scotland and Moot Hills]
{{Commons category-inline|Moot hills}}
{{wiktionary|moot}}

{{Anglo-SaxonPaganism}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moot Hill}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures in England]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Scotland]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Scotland]]
[[Category:Scotland in the Early Middle Ages]]