Scheduled Monument

Elphinstone Tower,towerhouseSM6318

Status: Designated

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.

Summary

Date Added
13/02/1996
Supplementary Information Updated
03/08/2021
Type
Secular: tower
Local Authority
East Lothian
Parish
Tranent
NGR
NT 39041 69799
Coordinates
339041, 669799

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a late 15th century towerhouse.

The tower was partially demolished some years ago. It is of rectangular plan, 16m E-W by 12.3m N-S over walls 1.8m thick. It originally had a basement, entresol and two upper floors. THe N wall survives to 4m high, and incorporates a round-headed doorway with a segmental arch and an intact stair window. The E and W walls survive to first floor level, but become lower to the S.

The S wall has been replaced by a field boundary dyke. Two straight stairs survive within the N wall, on the E the main staircase and to the W a minor stair to a small upper chamber. The interior of the tower has been concreted over, and steps leading from the entrance added. The area to be scheduled is rectangular, 20m E-W by 16m N-S, to include the tower and an area around in which evidence relating to its construction and use may survive, as indicated in red on the accompanying map.

The above-ground portion of the boundary wall to the immediate S of the tower is excluded from this scheduling.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a fragmentary example of a simple towerhouse, which may be able, through further study and through excavation and analysis, to provide important information on the development and use of minor fortified residences in the SE Scotland.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NT 36 NE 2.

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.

Images

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Printed: 13/06/2026 10:11