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

  Legal Documents for Aberdour Castle (SM90002)

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600020087)

Summary

Description

The monument forms the substantial remains of Aberdour Castle, the adjacent walled and terraced gardens and a dovecot.

The core of the castle is represented by the basement and a substantial part of the SE wall of a 2-storeyed hall house built ca.1200 for the De Mortimer family. This was raised in height and altered internally in the 15th century to create a tower house. In the mid 16th century, a central range was added, probably by Regent Morton, together with a back courtyard containing ancillary buildings.

The last major addition was the creation of an E range built for the 7th Earl in the early 17th century. The castle was damaged by fire in the late 18th century, only the E range subsequently being repaired. This continued in use as a barrack, school room, masonic hall and dwelling until 1924.

The terraced gardens to the S of the castle consist of 4 terraces linked by stone steps and probably date to the period of Regent Morton's rebuilding programme in the 1550s. The 'beehive' dovecot which stands at their SE corner was constructed in the later 16th century. The walled garden to the NE of the castle was built for the 7th Earl in 1630s.

The area to be scheduled is irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 185m NNW-SSE by 200m ENE-WSW, to include the castle, terraced and walled gardens and the dovecot, plus the area of the driveway which extends 140m to the WSW of the W-most point of the castle grounds. The driveway is a uniform 10m in width.

The boundary of the scheduled area follows, and includes, existing boundary walls and is defined on the S side by the N bank of the Dour Burn: all as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. Excluded from this scheduling are the Custodian's building, the top 30cm of the driveway and the top 30cm of all pathways, to allow for maintenance.

• Specifically excluded (in addition to and amended from current exclusions) are:

1. The above-ground remains of the modern structure of vestry of St Fillans church.
2. The above-ground elements of the modern structure of visitor facilities buildings (including the shop, toilets, kitchen and intermediate yard) and its roof, fixtures and fittings.
3. The top 30cm of garden ground within the walled garden and the top 30 cm of the orchard ground.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of the information it can provide on the development of castleated architecture from the 12th to the 17th century and for the information it provides on the social standing of the families who occupied the castle throughout its use. In addition, the survival of important internal decoration, architectural and artefactual evidence of the use of the monument and important information about the garden and associated pleasure grounds adds to its 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.