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

  SM9336_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013499)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises an elongated mound traditionally held to be the site of a castle of the Comyn family.

The mound is a natural fluvio-glacial hillock rising above the flat flood plain of the River Spey, and close to a crossing point. At some time in the past it has been sculpted to provide a flat top and a flanking ditch (which survives on the NW and W) with access causeway approaching from the NNE.

It is possible that the former castle, whose existence is not well documented but was probably a successor to nearby Loch an Eilean, may have replaced earlier structures on the same site. The surface of the flat summit of the mound was once again levelled in the late 19th century, removing all visible trace of early remains. Nonetheless, considerable sub-surface potential survives.

The area to be scheduled is approximately oval on plan, defined by the foot of the slope of the mound. It measures a maximum of 170m NE-SW by 110m. It is edged on the W and SW by an estate road and on the S by the back walls of ancillary buildings to the Doune, the inhabited house which is the vanished castle's successor. These features are excluded from scheduling. The area is indicated in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the site of an early residence of one of medieval Scotland's leading families, and for the potential it contains for evidence relating to medieval and possibly earlier fortified settlement.

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.