Scheduled Monument

Auchenskeock CastleSM10434

Status: Designated

Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

Summary

Date Added
20/06/2002
Type
Secular: castle
Local Authority
Dumfries And Galloway
Parish
Colvend And Southwick
NGR
NX 91745 58867
Coordinates
291745, 558867

Description

The monument comprises Auchenskeock Castle (sometimes spelt Auchenskeoch Castle), which is of medieval date and visible as an upstanding ruin. The monument is situated on the NE shoulder of a low hill overlooking the Southwick Water at about 65m OD.

The placename, 'Achinskeauch', is first recorded in 1462. In 1490, it and other lands were granted in feu to John Lindsay, Falconer to James IV, probably as part of his fee. His widow, Marion Bonkle, retained the grant after her husband's death as she remained in service to the Queen. James Lindsay succeeded his father as Master Falconer to James V, and then to Queen Mary.

Only the round tower at the N corner of Auchenskeock Castle and a large proportion of the NE wall of the main block survives. The original form of the castle is therefore conjectural, but it may have been built as a Z-plan towerhouse which would make its form unique in Galloway. It appears to date to the second half of the 16th century or to the early 17th century; and was most probably built by James Lindsay, who died after 1563, or his son John, who died in 1628. It may have resembled a hall house with a simple basement, principal floor with timber partitions (no tusking is evident from the inner wall face to suggest masonry partitions) and a garret.

The walls are constructed of natural granite boulders which were roughly hewn for the window margins and gun loops. The walls are unusually thin (0.8m on average) and survive to a maximum of 7m in height. The unvaulted basement of the castle may have incorporated a kitchen. The round tower contained irregularly shaped rooms with gun-loops at basement level, which would have provided flanking cover for the walls of the main block if the towerhouse was Z-plan. Evidence for the existence of a parapet walk survives on the NE wall. The tall square-plan chimney served the fireplace of the tower's first floor room.

James Lindsay succeeded his father John in 1628, and shortly thereafter he mortgaged the estate to Patrick Young. The Youngs retained the lands until c.1780. The estate change hands later on a number of occasions. The steading of Castle Farm, which subsumes the towerhouse, dates to the 19th century. It is likely that most of the castle was dismantled at this time, although part of the NW wall was still standing in the early 20th century.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be found. It is irregular in plan with maximum dimensions of 33m SE-NW by 24m NE-SW, as marked in red on the accompanying map. All modern structures and the surface area of all yards and floors, to a depth of 300m, should be excluded.

References

Bibliography

No Bibliography entries for this designation

About Scheduled Monuments

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.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling 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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Printed: 29/03/2024 09:59