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

  SM5270_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011173)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of Gilbertfield, also called Gilbertfiled castle, a seventeenth century L-shaped mansion situated on the lower slopes of Dechmont Hill.

The remaining structure is rectangular, the SE wing having been demolished. The four-storey house is aligned N-S and measures 14.6m by 8.5m over walls 0.9m thick. The walls are complete to wallhead (10m) although they are showing signs of decay. There are two crowstepped gables intact to a height of 17m, one in the N wall and one in the S end of the W wall. In the NW angle there is a corbelled turret. The masonry is coursed sandstone bonded with lime mortar. The entrance is in the E angle. The lobby is partly rubble filled as a result of the collapse of the stairs. This passage leads to the main newel stairwell. The rooms in the ground floor were all vaulted but only that over the N cellar is intact. The kitchen was in the demolished SE wing. The dining room took up the S portion of the

first floor and was connected to the kitchen by a service stair in the SW wall. The N parlour is accessible through a corridor that runs parallel to the main staircase. There were three bedrooms in each of the two upper floors. Large windows light the S, W and E sides, two of which have decorative gun-holes in their sills. The main staircase has several smaller windows.

The area to be scheduled is square with sides measuring a maximum of 30m to include the mansion, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a particularly good example of a dwelling house which illustrates the transition between defensive keep and the modern mansion house. It is therefore important both architecturally and historically.

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.