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

  SM10580_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013714)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a probable moated site of medieval date, visible as a cropmark on oblique aerial photographs. The site lies in an arable field at around 35m OD, immediately NNE of Brunstane.

The cropmark shows the remains of a rectilinear enclosure defined by a single broad ditch visible on three sides. The surviving portion measures some 45m NW-SE (which is probably the original width) by about 40m transversely (the site was originally longer). No entrance is visible. There appear to be two extensions of the ditch: one extending outwards at the NE corner of the cropmark; and one extending inwards on the W side of the enclosure.

The SW part of the enclosure is not visible on the aerial photographs, where it runs into the gardens of Brunstane House. Although it is possible that the remains of the enclosure survive within and beneath the gardens, no trace of it is visible in the gardens today, either from the air or from the ground.

Moated settlements were high-status defended residential sites of the medieval period. This example appears to represent the early settlement at Brunstane, referred to in 14th-century records as Gilbertoun, and is of particular interest because manorial occupation continued at this site into the post-medieval period.

The area to be scheduled is irregular in shape and measures a maximum of 66m NW-SE by 64m SW-NE, as marked in red on the accompanying map. It includes the moated site and an area around it within which remains relating to its construction and use may be expected to survive. The scheduled area is bounded on the SW by the gardens of Brunstane House; the garden boundary wall is specifically excluded from scheduling to allow for its maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of the character and dynamics of medieval high-status defended settlement sites. Its importance is enhanced by the surviving historical evidence for its association with the early settlement at Brunstane, referred to in 14th-century records as Gilbertoun; and because manorial occupation continued at this site into the post-medieval period.

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.