Documents

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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

  SM8715_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013406)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of a late 16th century tower-house with a later two storeyed addition to the S elevation. The tower was attached to a rectangular barmkin wall, of which only the S wall now survives. However this stretch preserves the entrance, a wide gateway with a semi-circular arched gateway, moulded with a quirked edge-roll and surmounted by a hood-mould.

In 1547 the lands of Buckholm, once the property of Melrose Abbey, were given by the commendator in liferent to James Hoppringill (Pringle) of Tynnes. In the following Robert Hoppringill of Blyndley and others were charged with treasonably assisting the English and 'keeping' the house of Buckholm. This may refer to an early structure, as a dated lintel believed to have come from Buckholm is dated 1582, with the initials I.P. and N.P., refering to the Pringles. The tower only became ruinous this century, and stands at Old Buckholm on the W side of Buckholm Hill, overlooking Gala Water.

The tower is constructed of whin rubble with numerous pinnings. The dressings of the doors and windows are freestone, on occasion a deep red sandstone. Two of the windows have a have a pilastered detail, similar to the windows at nearby Colmslie tower. A third window has a shaft at each side returning on the lintel to make an ogival head.

The tower is oblong with a shallow wing, which projects E in alignment with the N gable. It is three storeys and an attic in height and measures 10.5m NS by 7m EW. The SE corner of the wing has been chamfered off. The wall head of the tower is simply treated, without a parapet and without crowsteps on the gables.

Originally, the tower had two entrances. The ground floor entrance situated in the re-entrant angle of the wing, leads directly to a vaulted cellar, which still retains its hooks in the vault. There does not appear to have been internal communication between the cellar and the rest of the tower. The first floor entrance would have been reached by a timber forestair. From the entrance lobby, the first floor is reached by a short flight of steps, but from this level upwards the stair has been timber. The accommodation has been subdivided by wooden partitions at a late date, but these may reflect an earlier arrangement of rooms.

The area to be scheduled is rectangular in shape, with maximum dimensions of 40m N-S and 30m transversely to include the upstanding masonry and an area around it, within which associated remains are expected to survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an example of a well-preserved 16th century tower house. The archaeology of this monument has the potential to contribute to our knowledge of the construction techniques, defences, domestic life and function of such monuments. Its importance is accentuated by the rare survival of a stretch of barmkin wall containing the gate, and the addition of a later block to the tower.

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.