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

  SM90133_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014664)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of St Triduana's Aisle, a hexagonal two-storeyed chapel of the 15th century.

The sunken vaulted chamber of a 15th-century building adjoins the partly rebuilt medieval church of Restalrig. Only fragments remain of an upper chamber. The lower chamber was cleared out and restored in 1907 by Dr Thomas Ross, and has since been known as "St Triduana's Well-House".

The presence of water may be accidental and the structure is probably a chapel rather than a well-house. The lower chamber of the hexagon is 2.25m below ground level and measures about 15m across externally. The walls are pierced by windows of three pointed and cusped lights beneath three-centered arches, externally surmounted by moulded dripstones.

The chamber is entered from the churchyard through a small court and a door in the SW wall of the hexagon. There were four butresses, but only one is original, the remainder having been replaced in 1907. The interior vault springs from the foliated capitals of angle-shafts and a clustered central pillar.

The upper chamber was a more refined chamber and was probably the Kings Chapel endowed by King James III in 1477. An entry in the Exchequer Rolls of 1486-7 records the payment for the roof of the chapel. In 1609 the church was described as ruinious, but the lower chamber of the hexagon was preserved as a burial aisle for the Logans of Restalrig.

The area to be scheduled is a circle 15m across with an appended square of side 6m just N of W, to include the hexagonal chamber, the entry courtyard and the area immediatly around the chapel which is likely to contain archaeological evidence for the construction of the monument. It specifically excludes the section of the 19th century church adjacent to the monument. The area is marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its architectural quality and because of its association with James III as part of the construction of the King's chapel built before 1487. The area around has the potential to provide archaeological evidence for the construction of the chapel and for ecclesiastical use of the site.

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.