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.

• Type

  Legal Documents

  Title

  SM13649_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600016026)

Summary

Description

The monument is the remains of a coastal artillery battery constructed around 1866.  It is visible as a mortared stone wall, incorporating two cannon embrasures and describing a rectilinear enclosure, with an earth bank on the seaward side. A sunken chamber lies at the west end of the battery and the probable remains of a rectangular building at the east end. The battery is located on the coast overlooking the Pentland Firth, around 10m above sea level.

The monument was constructed in response to the perceived threat of a French invasion, and manned by a volunteer artillery battalion. The wall of the battery is constructed of Caithness slabs bonded with lime mortar and measures up to 1.9m high and 0.6m wide. It is protected on the seaward side by an earth bank measuring about 5.1m in width, broken by two cannon embrasures. The embrasures are wide angled and revetted with large slabs secured into the earth bank with a single iron tie rod. An entrance to a sunken room, measuring around 1.2m in width by 1.9m transversely and about 1.7m in height, lies within the west wall. The remains of a lintelled doorway on the east wall suggests the former presence of a building.

The scheduled area is irregular in plan, to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling extends up to but excludes the post and wire fence to the east, south and west.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to contribute to our understanding of the past, in particular of the construction and use of late 19th-century artillery batteries. It is a good example of a coastal artillery battery that retains its field characteristics. As a well-preserved example, the monument represents an unusual survival of a formerly common defensive structure and can significantly expand our understanding of the history of defence and volunteer forces in Scotland during the late 19th century. The loss or damage of the monument would diminish our ability to appreciate and understand the nature and character of late 19th-century coastal defences and the role of volunteer regiments within Caithness society and more widely.

References

Bibliography

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.