Scheduled Monument

Fulton TowerSM7033

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
13/01/1999
Type
Secular: castle
Local Authority
Scottish Borders
Parish
Bedrule
NGR
NT 60548 15811
Coordinates
360548, 615811

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a tower of 16th century date, lying to the E of the road that flanks the Rule Water, some 250m S of Fulton Farm.

The monument comprises the remains of an oblong tower house some 6.9m NW-SE by about 9.3m NE-SW with a circular stair-tower projecting from the E angle. Neither of the 2 surviving storeys has been vaulted, and both are incomplete, their SE wall together with the greater part of the stair tower being demolished.

The other walls, built of roughly-coursed harled rubble, stand to an average height of about 5.5m. The entrance cannot be traced. On the ground floor there are 2 oval gun-loops facing NW and a fireplace in the SW gable. On the floor above can be seen the remains of a window facing NE with a fireplace opposite it, the latter having a locker in one jamb.

In 1570 Margaret Hume of Cowdenknowes was life-rented in the lands of Fulton before her marriage to William Turnbull, son and heir of Thomas Turnbull of Bedrule.

The area to be scheduled encompasses the visible remains and an area around them in which traces of associated activity may be expected to survive. It is rectangular with maximum dimensions of 35m NE-SW by 25m transversely as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of late medieval domestic defensive architecture.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NT 61 NW 15.

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

There are no images available for this record, you may want to check trove.scot for images relating to Fulton Tower

There are no images available for this record.

Search trove.scot

Printed: 02/08/2025 07:41