Documents

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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

  SM10492_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013673)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of chemical works and smelters associated with a nearby copper mine at Tomnadashan, Lochtayside. The works were operated by the Marquess of Breadalbane between 1838 and 1862, with heavy losses. The physical remains are visible today as overgrown ruins.

The monument is situated in dense woodland on the shore of Loch Tay, at about 100m OD. The stumps of a former wooden pier lie adjacent to the shore, close to the entrance of a small burn. To the E of the burn there are three tiers of walling, c.0.5, 0.9 and 2m high; and further E, the remains of a brick furnace with an outer cladding of stone, its W wall built on to a heavy projecting buttress thought to be part of the charging system. Along the E line of the furnace and some 6m to the S there is a 0.5m square opening with a stone lintel; inside, a 3m long tunnel of good quality masonry can be seen.

About 5m from the tunnel opening, a small section of arched walling is exposed; another corner of masonry is visible about 6.5m beyond. This is believed to be part of the furnace stack, its base hidden by vegetation. Behind this stands a stone wall, c.1.25m high and buttressing the bank behind, which extends for at least 7m before merging into the vegetation.

To the W of the burn there is a prominent masonry platform, 21.5m long, which runs inland from the loch shore. Its upper boundary is marked by two sections of walling, offset at an angle of 30 degrees with a gap in between, which together supported a terrace some 3.5m above the level of the lower platform. The upper platform is bounded by three stone walls, each c.6m long when complete. There are projections at each end of the E wall.

At the W side of the lower platform, two heavy stone walls, 2m apart, are the remains of a large flue possibly used to conduct the sulphur and nitrogen oxide fumes from the burners. At the level of the second terrace the flue becomes smaller, but it can be traced for a further 15m up the slope. A short distance above the second terrace there is a section of brick and earthenware piping, which aligns with a piece of earthenware piping, c.0.3m in diameter, in the side of the stone flue.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to survive. It is sub-rectangular in shape, measuring approximately 124m W-E by 70m N-S, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of 19th-century small-scale industrial processing in rural Scotland. Its importance is enhanced by its association with a nearby copper mine of contemporary date, and by the good historical and physical evidence available for this industrial complex, which was sponsored by a single large landowner.

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.