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

  SM13573_Legal Doc_Redacted

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600002024)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a Cistercian nunnery dedicated to St Mary and founded by Ada de Warenne between 1152 and 1159. The monument is partly visible as a burial ground within an oblong wooded enclosure. Other elements survive as buried deposits visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs and documented by geophysical surveys. The monument is located on the north bank of the River Tyne, at a height of around 40m above sea level.

After the reformation the priory was largely dismantled and incorporated into the later farm of Abbeymill, although part of the site was used as a burial ground at least into the 18th century. The burial ground lies within an oblong wooded enclosure and at its east end there are a number of 17th/18th century gravestones and a substantial mound measuring around 15m across and less than 1m high. This mound is expected to contain buried elements of the nunnery church. Other buried remains of the priory are visible as cropmarks on aerial photographs. The main drain of the priory was later used as a mill lade, the line of which is visible, along with the priory fishponds, as cropmarks on aerial photographs.  Above-ground elements of the east range were reused and are preserved within the lower courses of the 19th century mill.  

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 may survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. The scheduling excludes the 19th century mill but does include the mill lade which incorporates the original monastic drain. The scheduling excludes the top 300mm of all roads, paths, and yards, and the above-ground elements of all stone dykes, fences, gates, telegraph and electricity poles to allow for their maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it has an inherent potential to make a significant contribution to our understanding of the past, in particular of medieval ecclesiastical foundations and, more specifically, Cistercian establishments and medieval nunneries. The monument was one of the richest nunneries in Scotland, with connections to lands across central Scotland and pioneering land management and exploitation activities. The monument is a rare survival, with high potential for the good preservation of buried features and deposits, including architectural remains and burials. The monument is directly associated with Ada de Warenne and with significant historical events such as the 'Rough Wooing'. It has the potential to make a significant contribution to our knowledge of the role of women in medieval religious life in Scotland, particularly in relation to monasticism. The loss of the monument would significantly diminish our future ability to appreciate and understand nunneries in Scotland and their role in respect of their local economies.

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.