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

  SM5424_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011326)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of the castle of Arnhall, a compact L-shaped mansion of seventeenth century date.

The building is situated in parkland SW of Keir House. Arnhall is known to have been the dowager-house of the Duchess of Athole. The surviving walls of the castle are intact and stand to wall-head level (c.10m) except for the re-entrant angle which has gone. The building measures 10m E-W by 9.6m N-S overall within walls 0.8m thick. The arm aligned E-W which contains the entrance extends for a distance of 5.4m (int) beyond the original position of the re-entrant angle. The masonry is of coursed sandstone rubble with dressed quoins and mouldings. At the NW and SE angles are the remains of corbelled turrets. The unvaulted building has had three stories, the ground floor contains several square mural cupboards and there is a fireplace in the N wall which indicates that this portion contained

The kitchen. There are the remains of fireplaces in the N and W walls at first floor level. Traces of an interior flight of steps leading to the first floor can be seen on the E wall. The square-headed entrance has a badly worn inscription above it. There may have been a porch or pediment above the door. The windows of the house are all square-headed. Both in the first floor S facade have segmental rear arches with an arched wall recess separating them. There are three gun-loops on the W wall. To the E of the house are a row of dilapidated contemporary out-buildings running N-S.

The area to be scheduled is square with sides measuring a maximum of 50m to be centred on the castle, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as it is a good example of a residence of seventeenth century date that retains features of interest to those researching the development of defensive and domestic architecture and in particular how building design relates to changing social and domestic needs. In addition it may preserve information retrievable through excavation which may increase our understanding of the society, economy and material culture of the Scottish Nobility in the late medieval and early modern period.

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.