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

  SM4035_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600010019)

Summary

Description

The monument is the remains of Old Thirlestane Castle and an area around it where associated buildings and enclosures formerly stood. The castle dates probably from the 13th to 15th centuries. It comprises an oblong tower with a secondary stair block to the SW. The S wall of the tower and the stair block survive as unroofed structures, standing two to three storeys high. To the W of the tower, the footings of two near-parallel building ranges are visible as low, grass-covered banks. To the S of the tower, two sub-rectangular enclosures are visible as low, turf-covered banks, and a larger, irregular enclosure lies N of the tower. A curvilinear bank to the S represents a potential kiln site. The monument stands 190m above sea level, occupying ground that slopes gently to the ESE. It is overlooked from the NW, but stands immediately above a steep scarp down to the Boondreigh Water, which lies about 200m to the ESE.

The oblong tower measures 10m WNW-ESE by 7.3m transversely, with walls a little over 1m thick, constructed of random rubble occasionally brought to courses. The S wall stands about 8m high towards the SE corner. The stair tower measures 4.4m by 3.5m and stands to about 7m in height. The lower floor of the main tower appears to have been vaulted. There are two window apertures in the S elevation of the stair tower and one in the S elevation of the main tower, with some red sandstone dressings surviving. There are building ranges some 8m WNW of the tower and 25m to the WSW; the former measures about 25m NNE-SSW by 5.5m transversely, the latter about 23m N-S by 5.5m transversely. To the S of the tower, two enclosures are bounded to the SE by the scarp slope down to the Boondreigh Water; they measure about 32m N-S by 30m transversely and 60m E-W by 35m transversely. The enclosure to the N measures at least 100m E-W by 50m transversely. The form of the banks suggests most were stock enclosures rather than defences.

The scheduled area is irregular on plan, to include the remains described above and an area around them in which evidence for the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. On the W side, the scheduling extends up to but excludes a drystone dyke with post-and-wire fence. The monument was first scheduled in 1977, but the documentation did not meet modern standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it has significant potential to contribute to our understanding and appreciation of late medieval and post-medieval domestic fortified dwellings, their construction, maintenance, development and abandonment. The tower is associated with the earthwork remains of two ranges of buildings to the W and enclosures to the N and S, where well-preserved buried archaeological remains can be expected. The combination of features here is rare and can enhance understanding of the estate centre of a locally important landowner. The monument would have been a prominent feature in the landscape when occupied and remains an evocative ruin. Documentary records enhance the interest and potential of the monument, providing information about the Maitland family who lived there. Our understanding of the character and function of tower houses in eastern Scotland would be diminished if this monument was to be lost or damaged, particularly because it provides a rare opportunity to compare a tower house with the associated buildings and enclosures in its immediate vicinity.

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.