Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

DUMBARTON CASTLELB24880

Status: Removed

Documents

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Summary

Category
A
Date Added
03/03/1971
Date Removed:
16/03/2018
Local Authority
West Dunbartonshire
Planning Authority
West Dunbartonshire
Burgh
Dumbarton
NGR
NS 39988 74485
Coordinates
239988, 674485

Removal Reason

The designation of this structure as a listed building will be removed as part of the Dual Designation 2A project. It will continue to be recognised as being of national importance through its designation as a scheduled monument.

Description

Mostly 17th or 18th century fortifications on a large, steep, twin-peaked rock; partly enclosed by irregular curtain walls

at south-west and north-east, with gun batteries.

Rubble-built throughout, with ashlar dressings. Entrance at

south: 19th century outer gate. Inner (Classical,

round-arched) gate, triangular-plan King George's battery

with circular sentinel box corbelled over southern angle and

simple, classical 3-storey and attic 3-bay governor's house

all by Captain John Romer, 1735, Military Engineer for

Scotland. Steps behind governor's house lead through rock

cleft and guardhouse (probably 16th century; gun ports,

carved mask stone and 2 18th century windows) and through

pointed narrow archway of portcullis arch (probably 14th

century). Well and 2-storey, 5-bay French prison (latter

built between 1750-1775) at head of cleft, and ruins of 1617

Wallace tower which formerly guarded north entrance. Site of

Mediaeval White Tower and modern view indicator on western

summit (White Tower Crag); 1748 magazine by William Skinner

on eastern summit (The Beak) beside 1735 sentinel box (also

by Romer) on eastern curtain wall.

Statement of Special Interest

Guardianship monument. Anciently Al Cluith. Scheduled Ancient Monument No 90107.

Dumbarton Castle has a longer record history as a stronghold

than any other place in Britain (first noted circa 440-460

AD) Formerly the centre of the ancient kingdom of

Strathclyde, and later, an important mediaeval royal castle.

Reports on excavations 1974-<> by Leslie Alcock published in

PSAS and Glasgow Archaeological Review.

References

Bibliography

MacPhail, DUMBARTON CASTLE, 1979 (includes a good

bibliography)

HMSO, DUMBARTON CASTLE, 1958

Various records and drawings held in SRO, NLS and SNMR

Historic Environment Scotland Properties

Dumbarton Castle

https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/dumbarton-castle

Find out more

Related Designations

  1. Dumbarton CastleSM90107

    Designation Type
    Scheduled Monument
    Status
    Designated

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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