Scheduled Monument

Mersington House, deserted medieval village 100m SW ofSM4446

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
01/03/1988
Type
Secular: settlement, including deserted and depopulated and townships; tower
Local Authority
Scottish Borders
Parish
Eccles
NGR
NT 77447 44205
Coordinates
377447, 644205

Description

The monument is a deserted Medieval village which is situated in a pasture field to the SW of Mersington House. A range of five sub-rectangular platform buildings occupies the NW corner of the field, to the W of the Lambden Burn and immediately to the SE of modern sheep-pens and a small plantation. Around this range of houses are traces of at least five other rectangular buildings as well as other signs of activity associated with the settlement. There are also the remains of several more buildings scattered over most of the rest of the field. The field is the site of Mersington Tower and a chapel.

The area to be proposed for scheduling includes all the visible remains and an area around them in which traces of activity associated with their use will survive. The area includes the whole field with the exception of a 50m wide strip along the SE boundary, the sheep-pens and plantation in the NW corner, and the part of the field to the W of Lambden Burn. The area measures a maximum of 300m (NE-SW) x 240m transversely.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it is a well-preserved example of a deserted Medieval village which has the potential to increase our understanding of the development of rural settlement and economy in the Middle Ages.

References

Bibliography

The monument is RCAHMS number NT 74 SE 1.

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

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Printed: 17/05/2024 09:48