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

  SM5180_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600018533)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a fifteenth century Mansion house, courtyard and arched gateway with a later terraced garden. Also included is a pair of gatepiers situated about 450m to the northeast. The monument is situated on a gentle south facing slope.

The estate of Scotscraig, first mentioned in a charter of 1452, was acquired by James Sharp, Archbishop of St Andrews about 1661 after which the terraced garden was added. Only the northwest gable of the house remains. It is of rubble masonry and is 7m long, 1m thick and about 10m high. The gable is built into an extensive system of high walls. The wall running north-south along the length of the old house forms the western boundary. The area to the south is rectangular and divided by a wall into two parts: the upper section forms a courtyard which contains the remains of the house and arched gateway; the lower section holds the terraced garden. There is a connecting doorway in the dividing wall, and a side entrance to the lower garden in the east. The gateway in the courtyard has a semi-circular arch with quoins and voissoirs pulvinated alternately. The keystone has a cartouche with the initials of Bishop Sharp and the date 1667. There are staircases at the north and south levels of the lower garden. A pair of renaissance gatepiers with globular finials dated 1680 are situated 400m NE of Old Scotscraig. This gateway has been blocked off.

The scheduled area is in two parts; one area covers the Mansion house and terraced garden and the other area covers a pair of gatepiers located 450m NE of the Mansion house, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling specifically excludes modern fences, modern gates and the stone wall between the pair of gatepiers located 450m NE of the Mansion house.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as one of the few surviving structures of this period. This importance is enhanced by the fact that the property has been documented since the 15th century. Several commemorative architectural features in the garden are of historical interest due to their association with Archbishop Sharp's tenure of the estate.

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.

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