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

  SM5638_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011536)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a 16th/17th century towerhouse, known as Eden Castle.

Eden is thought to have been built by the Meldrums in the 16th century. It passed to George Leslie, who carried out repairs in 1676- 7. (The date 1677 appears above one of the upper windows on the S facade). The original plan consisted of a main block lying N-S with a tower at the SW angle and another (now destroyed) at the NE angle. A round tower, now also destroyed, was added to the NW angle. Only the S portions of the tower survive. The building is rubble built and has had a vaulted basement and two upper storeys.

The upstanding portion of the tower survives to a height of about 13m, and measures 13.8m N- S by 12.7m E-W over walls about 1.3m thick. The basement of the main block is divided into two cellars and a passage leading to the N portion. A private stair in the SE angle of the S cellar leads to the hall which took up the first floor of the main block.

The basement is well provided with gun-loops and slits. The round-headed entrance is in the re-entrant angle. The tower contained a broad square staircase (now gone), beneath which was a guard room. A circular stair corbelled out in the re-entrant angle leads from the landing of the main staircase to the upperfloor.

The area to be scheduled is rectilinear, extending 3m from the exterior walls of the castle, measuring a maximum of 23.3m N-S by 22m E-W to include the ground plan of the castle, but excluding the concrete farm enclosures, gates and dykes abutting against the N, S and E castle walls, and excluding the road on the W boundary, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a good example, albeit reduced, of a fortified towerhouse dating from the 16th century. As such it provides evidence and has the potential to provide further evidence, through a combination of historical research and archaeological excavation, for domestic and defensive architecture, lifestyle and material culture during the late medieval and early modern periods.

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.