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

  SM6574_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600012459)

Summary

Description

The monument is an Iron Age promontory fort, visible as a cropmark on aerial photographs, which may have been modified for re-use in or before the early sixteenth century.

The monument comprises three concentric ditches which have been drawn across the neck of a short, blunt promontory. A clear central entrance gap is visible through the two outer ditches. The innermost ditch is markedly broader than the other two. This might suggest a change in construction, representing the strengthening of the defences of the Iron Age fort.

However, a castle is attested here in 1528 and it seems most likely that the prehistoric site was modified for re-use in or before the early sixteenth century. The farmer has noted a change of soil colour and increased soil stoniness when ploughing in the vicinity of the cropmark.

The castle of Randerston, mentioned in 1528, stood on the shore but no trace is visible on the ground today. The lands of 'Randalstown' are recorded in 1429, and the 'tower, fortalice and manor-place' in the 1663 Registrum Magni Sigilli Regum Scotorum (Register of the Great Seal of Scotland). The name 'Randerston Castle' on the Ordnance Survey 1:10000 scale map is applied to a natural rock feature on the shore.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan, bounded on the S and W by the arc of a circle and on the other sides by the high water mark of ordinary spring tides. This includes the whole of the area of the fort and an additional small area around it to the S and W. It also includes an area at the foot of the low cliffs and coastal slope, in which remains of associated structures and deposits may survive, together with a small cave.

From the shore to its furthest extent inland, the scheduled area is 125m wide. It measures a maximum of 220m NW-SE. The area is shown in red on the accompanying map extract. The modern fence lines are to be excluded from the scheduling, for ease of maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an impressive cropmark site indicating the presence of a substantial Iron Age fort. The monument has the potential to contribute to our understanding of prehistoric settlement and economy.

The ditches are likely to preserve significant archaeological deposits and it is highly likely that other important prehistoric archaeological remains survive in the interior of the monument and immediately outwith its ditches, as well as on the coastal platform below.

Unusually, this prehistoric site appears to have been re-used in the medieval period, and the archaeological remains of a medieval castle are highly likely to survive within the scheduled area. The medieval site itself, as well as the nature of the medieval modifications to the prehistoric site, are also of importance.

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.