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

  SM13317_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014478)

Summary

Description

The monument is the remains of Cockburnspath Tower, built probably in the 15th century and now visible as a ruinous tower standing two storeys high, with a basement level and ancillary range (or barmkin). The tower lies on the N side of Tower Dean, one of several deep ravines that cut E-W across north-eastern Berwickshire. The site lies about 100m above sea level. It is overlooked from the W and N by higher ground, but occupies a commanding position offering good views to the S over the Tower Dean.

Cockburnspath Tower is a keep of rectangular plan, measuring about 6.5m by 5.5m within walls averaging 1.8m in thickness. The NE wall stands around 12m high, with indications of an opening at each floor level, arched on the interior and square-headed externally. The SW wall stands only about 0.5m high and both the NW and SE walls are partially ruined. The fragmentary indications of a vaulted basement are still visible.

Some 3.6m NE of the tower is a wing of one storey containing two apartments and measuring some 13.5m by 5.79m over walls 0.6m in thickness. Another one-storey building, measuring about 21m by 5.5m within walls averaging 1m in thickness, has enclosed a courtyard on the SE side. It consists of three vaulted apartments with narrow loop-holes formed in the NE and SE walls. A few fragments survive of an arched doorway which gave access to the NE apartment from the courtyard. To the N of this ancillary range (barmkin), the gulley side on which the tower stands has been quarried away.

The scheduled area is irregular on plan, to include the remains of the castle and ancillary range and an area around them in which evidence for the tower's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling specifically excludes the above-ground elements of modern post-and-wire fences and a stile and gate.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an upstanding, late medieval tower that can make a significant contribution to our understanding of castles and high status dwellings in medieval Scotland. It represents an important component of both the medieval and contemporary landscape. Rare surviving features include a well-preserved ancillary range. In addition to the upstanding structure, there is good potential for buried archaeological remains that can provide information about the date and character of the tower's occupation, including evidence for daily life, trading contacts and economy. Documentary sources suggest that the tower was fortified by the 'Red' Douglases in the mid-1540s, possibly to repel English raiders. The tower has been associated with Ravenswood Tower of Sir Walter Scott's 'The Bride of Lammermoor'. The loss of the monument would diminish our ability to understand the form and function of medieval towers in the Scottish Borders and further afield, and their role in the expression of status.

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.