Scheduled Monument
Balcraggie Lodge,settlement 700m N ofSM5230
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
- 13/01/1992
- Supplementary Information Updated
- 15/01/2019
- Type
- Secular: enclosure; field system; house; kiln; linear earthwork, dyke; settlement, including deserted and depopulated and townships
- Local Authority
- Highland
- Planning Authority
- Highland
- Parish
- Latheron
- NGR
- ND 14054 31281
- Coordinates
- 314054, 931281
Description
The monument is a small post medieval settlement on a low terrace of Dunbeath Water. The settlement consists of two long buildings, a kiln house with enclosure, rigs and a clearance cairn. One long house has an extra chamber on the long side, this may be a bed recess or dairy. The fire place and chimney in the gable end of the building may
suggest a late abandonment of the site. This settlement is not marked on Roy's map of 1747-52, but may be 'Clashraven' of a 1789 sasine.
The area proposed for scheduling measures a maximum of 240m NW-SE by 100m SW-NE, to include all the buildings, the clearance cairn and the field system. This area is taken 15m beyond a stone wall which defines the edge of the rigs to the S of the settlement. To the NE the scheduled area is defined by the wood and to the SW by the Dunbeath Water. To the NW the area is defined by a terrace which slopes down to lower ground. The proposed scheduled area is shown in
red on the attached plan.
Statement of National Importance
The monument is of national importance for its potential to contribute to an understanding of the life of a post medieval farming community and the process of the Clearances in this area of Caithness. The settlement forms a single farming unit with 2 houses, a kiln barn and a discrete area of infield covered with rig and furrow. The abandonment of the settlement may have been comparatively late; the buildings are well preserved and incorporate important architectural information.
References
Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation
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.