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

  SM90179_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014708)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the substantial remains of a late medieval castle built on a rocky promontory at the NE end of Loch Awe.

The castle consists of a four-storey tower at its most eastern angle with other ranges forming a courtyard to the W of the tower. The tower was built in the mid-15th century by Sir Colin Campbell, 1st of Glenorchy. The upper storey was reworked in the third quarter of the 16th century by Sir Colin Campbell, 6th of Glenorchy, who introduced the corbelled angle-rounds. To the S of the tower originally stood a laigh hall.

One wall of this building survives as part of the outer wall of the castle. Between the site of the laigh hall and the tower is a two-storey range (with garret) which is first on record in 1614 but appears to have been substantially altered in the rebuildings of 1690-98.

At this time John, 1st Earl of Breadalbane, rebuilt the whole of the N side of the castle as a three storey barracks with garret. He also added the three corner towers and a new stair to the tower. The building was unroofed by about 1770. Outside the walls of the castle can still be made out a defensive ditch to the N and E and the remains of a stone-built boat landing.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan. It is defined to the S by the edge of the loch. To the NW it is defined by a line between two points; one on the water's edge 120m WSW of the E corner of the castle, the other 80m NNW of the E corner of the castle. To the N the area is defined by a line from the point 80m NNW of the E corner of the castle to a point 50m NNE of the same corner.

To the E the area is defined by a line running SW from the point 50m NNE of the E corner of the castle to the water's edge. The area is irregular in shape, measuring 160m ENE-WSW by 100m NNW-SSE and is marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a very well-preserved late medieval castle. The building formed the base for the western end of the Breadalbane estates and was used as a government military base in Argyll in the 17th century. The barrack blocks, while more simply built than the tower, are particularly important as some of the earliest purpose-built barracks in Europe.

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.