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

  SM13324_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014482)

Summary

Description

The monument is the buried foundations of a substantial stone building and associated buried remains that can be identified as the palace of the bishops of Glasgow at Ancrum, occupied during the 12th and 13th centuries. The monument survived as a group of upstanding stone buildings in the 18th century, but the last of the standing walls fell in 1837. Trial excavation demonstrates that stone walls survive below the ploughsoil, including a dressed stone door surround. The excavation also indicates the survival of pits containing medieval pottery, spreads of demolition debris, robber trenches and midden deposits. Geophysical survey indicates that a probable rectangular enclosure surrounds the building remains and extends to the W and NW; the enclosure measures about 100m W-E by 40m transversely. The monument lies 100m E of the village of Ancrum, about 75m above sea level, on a prominent ridge of higher ground that overlooks the Ale Water to the N and E.

The scheduled area is irregular on plan 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.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it can make a significant addition to our understanding of medieval high status dwellings in the Scottish Borders, particularly the construction, form and function of bishop's palaces. Trial excavation indicates high potential for significant survival of stone walls and architectural features. Geophysical survey and aerial photography suggest that extensive buried evidence for a surrounding enclosure may also survive. In addition to the structural remains, there is proven potential for pits and midden deposits that can provide information about the date and character of occupation and for trade and exchange contacts. Bishop's palaces of the 12th and 13th centuries are extremely rare in Scotland. Our understanding of the form and character of medieval bishops' palaces would be diminished if this monument was lost or damaged.

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.