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

  SM5277_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011180)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a fortified residence probably built during the middle of the fifteenth century.

The tower is situated in a hilly area on the W side of the Candy Burn midway between Biggar and Dolphinton. The three storeyed house measures 7.9m NE-SW by 7.3m over walls 1m thick. The walls survive to wall head (8.2m Max ht) apart from the NE and most of the SW walls which were destroyed in 1872. The tower had crowstepped gables (a small section survives in the SW wall). It has a circular external

tower projecting from the N angle which housed the staircase. The entrance is in the NW wall next to the stair turret. The ground floor contains a vaulted cellar with a shot hole in the SE wall. There is a slit window in the NE wall. The hall occupied the whole of the first floor. It is lit by one window in the NE and two in the SE wall.

There is a small cupboard in the SW wall. The floor above contained one room with two windows above those in the hall and a window and fireplace with moulded corbels in the SE wall. There is a small window in the SW wall. The tower has a wall containing an entrance gateway with a semi-circular headed archway. This wall, originally part of a courtyard, projects some 6.1m from the NE wall. A second house stood in the courtyard but this was demolished in 1815. The

tower itself is built of random rubble with some dressed stones (used liberally in the gateway). The courtyard was cobbled and there is a slight ditch and bank to the NE running NW-SE.

The area to be scheduled is irregular and measures a maximum of 40m N-S by 35m E-W, excluding the surrounding fence, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it is a fine example of a simple fifteenth century tower which also promises through excavation to contribute further to our knowledge of medieval building construction, domestic occupation and material culture.

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.