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

  SM13536_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014527)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the well-preserved remains of a pre-Improvement period farmstead known as Tafts. The farmstead includes the remains of a roofless two-storey house, an associated barn with attached corn-drying kiln, the foundations of three byres, and two yards enclosed by stone dykes. The monument is located on an area of sloping ground at the heart of an extensive township known as Quandale (or Quendale), at about 40m above sea level, some 675m inland from the exposed W coast of Rousay.

The farmstead is aligned NE-SW with the buildings located on either side of a central track. The main house is a two-storey structure with thick stone walls, crow-stepped gables, double-splayed windows, an internal staircase and a central stone-walled passageway connecting two opposing entrances. The house measures approximately 10m NE-SW by 5m transversely. To the NE of the house is a long narrow barn measuring approximately 12m NE-SW by 4m transversely, with a corn kiln attached to its NE end. Both buildings are situated along the SE side of a near-rectangular walled yard measuring 32m NE-SW by 15m transversely. Three byre buildings are located on the other side of a central track, facing the house and barn. The byres are all approximately 6m NE-SW by 4m transversely and form the NW side of a second stone-walled yard measuring some 41m NE-SW by 33m transversely.

The farm was acquired in 1841 by George William Traill and inherited by Frederick William Traill-Burroughs, known as the 'Little General', who were responsible for clearance of the area, a practice not normally associated with Orkney. Tafts was cleared in 1846, although its corn kiln had been built only four years earlier. The house at Tafts is the only building surviving from the Quandale clearances.

The scheduled area is rectangular on plan, measuring 100m NW-SE by 75m transversely. It includes 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. The scheduling specifically excludes the above-ground elements of all modern post-and-wire fences to allow for their maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a well-preserved example of an intact pre-Improvement period farmstead - a rare occurrence in Orkney. The monument has high potential to make a significant contribution to our understanding of the past, particularly to our understanding of rural vernacular buildings, society, agricultural practices and economy in Orkney from at least the 16th through to the 19th century. The farmhouse is believed to be the earliest two-storey house in Orkney and retains unusual structural characteristics which can inform our understanding of the range and construction details of pre-Improvement period vernacular buildings. There is good potential for the survival of important archaeological deposits and environmental evidence in the buildings and yards that can inform our understanding of the development and use of the farmstead, as well as of land management and agricultural practices. There are also extensive documentary sources associated with this farmstead: early tax records and property deeds and, for the 19th century, a fuller record of the clearances of the area. Tafts forms part of the Rousay clearance landscape, associated with the activities of George William Traill and Frederick William Traill-Burroughs, an infamous episode in Rousay's history. The loss of the monument would affect our ability to understand historic rural settlement and land-use, both in Orkney and further afield

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.