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

  SM8264_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013322)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains, identified by underwater investigations, of a multi-span wooden bridge with stone reinforced piers running diagonally across the present channel of the River Forth, just upstream from Stirling Old Bridge, which it must, on historical evidence, pre-date.

These remains appear to correspond to the seven-arch wooden bridge depicted on the 13th-century common seal of the Royal Burgh of Stirling and the bridge is believed to be that where the English army of Edward I was defeated by the Scots, led by William Wallace, on 11 September 1297.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan with maximum dimensions of 184m from its NE-most point to its SW-most by 85m NW-SE, to include the remains of the bridge and the presumed site of its abutments, together with an area within which associated remains are expected to survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. The S boundary of the scheduled area is contiguous with the N boundary of the scheduled area associated with Stirling Old Bridge, while its E and W boundaries are formed by the edge of the river banks, except for a small areas at the SW and NE, where the area to be scheduled includes a part of the land beside the river bank. The small area on the E bank is bounded by, but excludes, a property boundary wall. The majority of the area to be scheduled normally lies below the waters of the River Forth.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the remains of a medieval multi-span wooden bridge with stone re-inforced piers which holds an important place in the national consciousness as the probable site of the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. It has the potential to add to our knowledge of early bridge building and communication routes and to our understanding of the history of the later 13th-century.

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.