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

  SM13216_Legal Doc_Redacted

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600002289)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the extensive remains of the slate quarrying industry on the island of Belnahua: its excavations, waste material, associated industrial and domestic buildings, machinery, infrastructure and other archaeological evidence, dating mainly from the middle of the 18th to the early 20th century.

The remains are visible as two substantial quarries (now flooded), widespread loose material (the by-product of slate extraction and processing), and the buildings, machinery and infrastructure used to excavate, process and transport the slate, and accommodate and service the quarry workers and their families. The main quarry measures up to 180m across and occupies a significant part of the island.

The scheduled area is the whole island extending to the Mean Low Water (Springs), to include the remains described above and an area around them within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. Specifically excluded from the scheduling are the above-ground remains of the sole roofed building, located in the south east of the island and formerly known as 'the shop', to allow for its occupation, together with the building extensions immediately north and south of its western end.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to make a significant addition to our understanding of the past, in particular, the development of the slate quarrying industry in Scotland. Belnahua is one of the 'Slate Islands' which became known for the quality and robustness of the roofing tiles produced from their quarries and exported to various parts of the world. Belnahua is particularly important as it has lain almost undisturbed since quarrying ceased in the early 20th century, which means that the remains are unusually well preserved. This intact relict industrial landscape of quarries, waste material and related infrastructure and accommodation is a key element in the story of Scotland's industrial heritage. Collectively, the surviving remains can tell us much about developments in the winning of slate and the associated industrial processes, and changes in the daily lives of the quarrymen and their families, over some 150 years. As well as the clearly visible remains across the island, the flooded quarries are known to contain well-preserved equipment and other archaeological evidence. In addition, documentary and historical evidence for the companies that operated here, including records and plans of the surviving remains, and for the daily lives of the quarries and their families, can add to our understanding and the interest of the site. The loss of the monument would significantly diminish our ability to appreciate and understand the Scottish slate industry in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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.