Scheduled Monument

'The Tulloch', fortified enclosure, 177m NE of LangdaleSM10503

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
11/12/2002
Type
Secular: earthwork
Local Authority
Highland
Parish
Farr
NGR
NC 69725 44944
Coordinates
269725, 944944

Description

The monument comprises a small fortified enclosure, known locally as 'The Tulloch', of probable medieval date, which is visible as a substantial earthwork. The monument is situated on the edge of the river terrace W of the River Naver, about 4m above the flat valley floor, at a height of about 45m OD. It commands extensive views to the NE and SW along Strath Naver.

The monument is circular in form, with an internal diameter of about 18m, and consists of an enclosure defended by a substantial ditch on its W side. The height of the enclosing rampart is 1.7m from internal ground level to its summit, and about 3 - 3.5m high on the W side of the monument. Several large boulders exposed in the inner slope of the turf-covered rampart in the W arc may be the remains of an inner retaining wall.

The massive ditch, 12.5m wide, is breached by a causeway in the SW arc and there is another gap on the NE side, which indicates that there were two entrances. The ditch would have formerly extended all the way around the perimeter. There is no gap in the rampart corresponding with the causeway across the ditch in the SW arc, which indicates that the defences may have been to some extent re-built at a later phase.

The date of the enclosure is uncertain, but both its position and form suggest that it may be a medieval fortification, rather than a prehistoric one.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to survive. It is almost circular on plan, with a maximum diameter of 80m, but truncated on its NW side by the B871 road, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an unusual fortification of probable medieval date, which has the potential to contribute to our understanding of a period of which little is currently known in this area. Its importance is enhanced by the fact that it may be of more than one phase and that it is reasonably well preserved.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NC 64 SE 30.

Bibliography:

Cooke, G. A. (1810) Topographical Description of Northern Division of Scotland, 60.

RCAHMS (1911) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Second report and inventory of monuments and constructions in the county of Sutherland, Edinburgh, 64, No. 194.

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 12:27