Scheduled Monument

Craigie CastleSM315

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
29/01/1955
Last Date Amended
22/02/1993
Type
Secular: castle; hall
Local Authority
South Ayrshire
Parish
Craigie
NGR
NS 40918 31743
Coordinates
240918, 631743

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a medieval castle which is surrounded by substantial earthworks. The castle stands on a low ridge 180m E of Craigie Mains farm. The earliest surviving portion is identified as a hall house of the late 12th or early 13th century. It appears to incorporate traces of an earlier structure. A subsequent building phase in the 15th century enlarged and modified the monument. The ridge on which the castle stands is cut by massive ditches to the SSW and NNE, while a third ditch to the NE forms an outer bailey. The area to be scheduled is irregular and measures a maximum of 345m NE-SW by 230m to include the castle and defensive outworks, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it is a fine example of a medieval fortified site which combines surviving stone built structures and surrounding earthworks. In addition to preserving the remains of a rare 12-13th-century hall house, it has the potential through analysis and excavation to increase our understanding of defensive architecture, domestic occupation, material culture and landuse during the period of its construction and use.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS - NS43SW 3

MacGibbon and Ross (1889) Cast & Dom Archit Scot Vol. 3, 296-301.

RCAHMS-The Archaeological Sites and Monuments of Scotland, North Kyle, Kyle and Carrick District (25), No. 102. Aerial photographs are available from RCAHMS, 1977 (AY 2910-4).

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.

Images

There are no images available for this record, you may want to check Canmore for images relating to Craigie Castle

There are no images available for this record.

Search Canmore

Printed: 28/03/2024 20:53