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

  SM7882_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013256)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the south-western portion of the boundary of the Deer Park created by William the Lion (1165-1214) and extended by Alexander III in 1266. The boundary of this park falls into two parts, the main pale and a northerly extension; this part of the scheduling includes only the main pale. The bank averages 4.5m wide and up to 1.5m high with an internal ditch some 2m to 3.5m in width and 0.6m deep.

The N extension to this park, which may represent the work of Alexander III, leaves the main pale close to the break in the N side of the park. This additional pale runs NNE across one tributary of the Back Burn of Arnbarrow, but at another tributary of that burn a gap has been left in the pale.

The leasing of the park in the 14th century is represented by a number of settlements, and one these forms part of this monument: it comprises two rectangular buildings, small yards and an area of rig and furrow. There are also the remains of a prehistoric settlement - two hut circles and field clearance cairns. There are three discrete areas to be scheduled. The southernmost is quite distant from the other two areas, and measures a maximum of 20m across and 130m long.

The central, largest, area has a complex shape, following the course of the Dyke, with a running length of over 3000m: it measures between 15m and 45m wide for most of its length but expands to a maximum of 400m NW-SE by 450m SW-NE to include the settlement and cultivation remains.

The north-eastern area measures a maximum of 35m across and is 315m long. All areas are as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as part of the best-preserved Deer Dyke in Scotland. It has the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of the construction and use of these enclosures. The monument is of particular importance because of the inclusion of the later settlement, which documents the abandonment of the enclosure in the later medieval period. The hut circles and associated cultivation remains are a rare survival to the south of the Mounth.

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.