Scheduled Monument
Arbroath Abbey and associated buildings, including the Abbot's HouseSM90018
Status: Designated
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.
Summary
- Date Added
- 31/12/1921
- Last Date Amended
- 21/02/2018
- Supplementary Information Updated
- 31/01/2019
- Type
- Ecclesiastical: abbey
- Local Authority
- Angus
- Parish
- Arbroath And St Vigeans
- NGR
- NO 64332 41290
- Coordinates
- 364332, 741290
Description
The monument comprises the remains of Arbroath Abbey and associated buildings.
The monument comprises the remains of the abbey, founded in 1178. Parts of the abbey church and domestic buildings remain, including the S transept, the W front, the gatehouse range and the abbot's house. The latter was built around 1500 and incorporates part of the south range in its basement.
The scheduled area encompasses the remains described and an area around them in which traces of associated activity may be expected to survive. It is irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 250m between its most easterly and westerly points and 136m between its most northerly and most southerly points, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. The scheduling excludes the above-ground components of the modern park furniture, modern fences, and the upper 30cm of Abbey Street and of all modern paths and tracks.
Statement of National Importance
The monument is of national importance because it was one of the most ambitious monastic complexes to be founded in Scotland, and because of the high value of its architectural remains and archaeological potential, which together have the power to provide information about a wide range of aspects of medieval society.
References
Bibliography
No Bibliography entries for this designation
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.