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

  SM5951_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011847)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the upstanding remains of Fedderate Castle, a 15th-century stronghold overlying a 13th-century defensive site.

This once impressive castle is thought to have been built by William de Crawford who held the barony from 1474-1519. It appears to have been bombarded by artillery, and is said to have been besieged after the battle of Killiecrankie (1689) by King William's troops as it was in the hands of supporters of King James VII, who had fled there after the battle.

The structure superseded an earlier tower dating from the 13th century (a stone removed from the site around 1830 was dated 1257). Fedderate was formerly surrounded by a ditch and a bog, and was accessible by means of a causeway and ditch, traces of which could still be seen around 1790. The area has since been drained and cultivated leaving no visible traces of these features.

Fedderate is now on a stony mound made from its own collapse. Two substantial portions of the four storey, L-shaped castle survive, namely the N angle of the main block and part of the E angle of the projecting wing. The long elevation was aligned NW-SE with the re-entrant angle

in the E. The basement and first floor have traces of vaulting.

The great hall was in the NW portion and the ground floor entrance was in the SW wall of the projecting wing and led directly into the kitchen. From here a circular stair to the W gave access to the upper rooms. These features in the SW wall are now reduced and buried by debris but were apparent in the late 19th century.

The walls are of pinned boulder rubble with sandstone dressings. The building measured 18.4m NW-SE by 13.5m NE-SW over walls 1.7m thick and about 14m high. The castle has rounded angles and a marked batter, and the wall is

intaken over the hall vault.

The area to be scheduled is square with sides measuring 24m, and is defined by the surrounding post and wire fence, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a good example of a 15th-century towerhouse which has been utilised as a site of defensive settlement from the 13th century for at least 300 years. As such, it provides above ground evidence for domestic architecture of the 15th century, and has the potential to provide further evidence, through excavation, for the layout of the earlier defensive and settlement, economy, social organisation and material culture from the 13th century onwards.

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.