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

  SM11719_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014073)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises an irregularly shaped enclosure in the centre of which is a rectangular stone building, visible as an upstanding earth bank and stone wall. The site lies on a gently S-sloping field to the NNW of the farm at Chapel of Towie.

The chapel is a rectangular structure, measuring 6.5m from NE-SW by 4.5m transversely, built of stone walls, 0.6m wide and up to 0.30m high. A gap in the SE indicates the presence of an entrance. The chapel is enclosed by an irregularly shaped earthen bank, measuring 15.5m from NE-SW by 13m transversely, which has been revetted with stones on its external banks. The bank survives to over 0.7m high and is over 2.5m in width. The area between the chapel and enclosure wall contains no grave markers. The New Statistical Account of Scotland lists the site as a chapel and graveyard with no known dedication. This type of site usually dates from the medieval period and lasted until the Reformation.

The area to be scheduled is polygonal in plan, to include the chapel, enclosure and an area around in which activities associated with the use and construction of the site may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

Cultural Significance

The monument's archaeological significance can be expressed as follows:

Intrinsic characteristics: The monument is a well-preserved archaeological site. It is unexcavated and therefore has the potential to provide high quality archaeological evidence of medieval ecclesiastical architecture and religious practices.

Contextual characteristics: The monument is a good example of a type known throughout Scotland. The chapel is associated with other known chapel sites in the area (Nether Towie, Kinbattoch, Belnaboth and Ley). The chapel would have been an outlying part of the ecclesiastical organisation centred in the main parish church at Towie where the remains of a medieval church and castle are located.

Associative characteristics: The monument is the product of the medieval church in Scotland and demonstrates the ecclesiastical organisation of the church, the religious beliefs of Scots and the effects of the Reformation.

National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to make a significant addition to the understanding of the past, in particular medieval ecclesiastical architecture, church organisation and religious practices. Its relatively good preservation enhances this potential. The loss of this example would affect our ability to understand the medieval and Reformation periods in Scotland.

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.