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

  SM5015_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600010920)

Summary

Description

The "hall of Walchtoun" is mentioned in 1395, and the "hous of Waughtone" in 1569, when Robert Hepburn, son of the laird, raided 16 horses from the stables. The castle occupied a low natural prominence, with a rock scarp facing north; and traces of a ditch on the north; the site measures overall some 100m east-west by 40m north- south, and is divided into 2 roughly equal parts by a depression running north-south across it.

At the south-west corner stands the remains of what was probably the wing of a tower-house, whose base projects from the foot of the scarp. This stands about 10m high and is built of local igneous rubble with lighter-coloured freestone dressings at the quoins and windows. A narrow window in the south has an edge-roll, suggesting a 16th-century date. On the north and east the site is bounded by a wall, which, however, represents simply the extension of the policy wall of the nearby farmhouse.

There are remains of other foundations on the site, including the site of a chapel, indicated by the OS (on uncertain evidence). The area to be scheduled includes the castle site thus described, and an area of land immediately surrounding it, including the wall on the south, as shown in red on the accompanying plan.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its contribution, and its potential to contribute through excavation, to our understanding of late medieval domestic defensive settlement. It may be expected to contain evidence relating to the architecture of the period as well as material relating to the lives of the castle's inhabitants.

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.