Scheduled Monument
Banff CastleSM2927
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
- 02/10/1970
- Last Date Amended
- 25/10/2001
- Type
- Secular: castle
- Local Authority
- Aberdeenshire
- Parish
- Banff
- NGR
- NJ 68927 64191
- Coordinates
- 368927, 864191
Description
The monument consists of the remains of a medieval castle. The monument was first scheduled in 1970; it is being rescheduled to exclude modern structures better protected by their listed status.
Banff Castle is thought to date from the 12th century and was originally essentially a timber and earth structure. This was later strengthened by the construction of a massive curtain wall, part of which survives forming the east, west and north walls of the courtyard behind Banff Castle House. There are numerous other buildings on the site which post-date the medieval use of the site. The large earthworks associated with the castle are still apparent beyond the defensive wall, particularly to the north and east of the castle mound.
The area to be scheduled is irregular in plan. It includes the earthworks and upstanding medieval masonry. To the east, south and west it is defined by, but does not include, property boundaries. To the north it is defined by the south and east walls of the walled garden and a line struck from the NE corner of the garden to the break in line of the east boundary. This area is showen in red on the accompanying map. However, excluded from the schedule are all standing structures (the house, its flanking pavillions, the gatehouse, the walls of the walled garden, the superstructure of the well and the indoor shooting range) other than the massive stone wall referred to above. Also excluded is the top 30cm of ground surfaces beneath existing buildings, roads and paths.
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.