Sim: Ellotts (The Gatehouse Record of the Aglionby Platt)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Pingilholls; The hole

In the civil parish of Castleton.
In the historic county of Roxburghshire, Scotland.
Modern Authority of Scottish Borders, Scotland.
1974 county of Borders, Scotland.

OS Map Grid Reference: NY556962
Latitude 55.25816° Longitude -2.69925°

The given map reference is suggested as the probable location of Sim: Ellotts shown on the Aglionby Platt.

There are no visible remains.

The likely form(s) of this building in 1590 are;

Unmortared Pele
Pele House ('bastle').

Reproduced by permission of the National Library of Scotland

Comments

A fortified house shown on the 1590 map is identified by the name of the holder only. The Ellotts were a family with rather numerous holdings in this area and identifying a Simon Ellott alive in 1590 has not proved possible as yet. I read the map as suggesting a site in the vicinity of Pinglehole. This is called Pingilholls on Pont's 1607 map which, at least, suggests there was a habitation of some form at the site in 1607, although Canmore is incorrect in assuming the Pont symbols represent towers (they seem to represent any form of habitation).
The map reference given in Canmore is misleadingly precise as well as fundamentally inaccurate (OS grip references define an area and should not be used as point locations on which to 'center' an area.). There are some suggestions that the modern cottages taking the name are not on the site of the original habitation which may have been a little to the north, but which side of the beck is not clear.
The form of Simon Ellott's house is not known. The relative lack of him in the records suggests he was a minor member of the Clan, and the lack of building remains suggests a modest house. A chamber over byre peel-house (possibly one of clay bonded walls) would be a reasonable assumption.

Sources of information, references and further reading

Canmore (The online National Monument Record for Scotland) Number 67982.

Books
- Maxwell-Irving, A.M.T., 2014, The Border towers of Scotland 2: Their Evolution and Architecture p. 235
  Jeffrey, Alexander, 1864, The History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire Vol. 4 p. 233 online copy
Periodical Articles
- Ellis, H., 1829, 'Copy of a manuscript tract addressed to Lord Burghley, illustrative of the Border topography of Scotland, AD 1590, with a platt or map of the Borders taken in the same year' Archaeologia Vol. 22 p. 161-71 online copy
Maps (Early maps)
- 1590, A Platt of the opposete Borders of Scotland to ye west marches of England (The Aglionby Platt) British Library online Gallery and Old Cumbria Gazetteer
  Blaeu, J., 1654, 'Lidalia vel Lidisdalia regio, Lidisdail' in Theatrum Orbis Terrerum, sive Atlas Novus, Vol.5; Scotice et Hibernia (Amsterdam) Map online copy

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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.

Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.

The possible site or monument is represented on maps as a point location. This is a guide only. It should be noted that OS grid references defines an area, not a point location. In practice this means the actual center of the site or monument may often, but not always, be to the North East of the point shown. Locations derived from OS grid references and from latitude longitiude may differ by a small distance.
Further information on mapping and location can be seen at this link.

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The Gatehouse website record of

Sim: Ellotts (Pinglehole)

a location shown on a 1590 map of the West Marches of Scotland (The Aglionby Platt)