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

  SM10861_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013794)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the lower one and a half storeys of a defensible structure that may have been either a small tower house, or perhaps more likely a bastle. It is a rectangular structure of about 9.75m from north-east to south-west and about 7.25m from north-west to south-east, with relatively thin walls of about 1.15m in thickness.

The lowest storey was covered by a barrel vault, of which the springings remain along the side walls, and there was a stair to the upper floor along the east wall, rising to one side of the main entrance through that wall. On the upper storey there is evidence of the partition that separated off the head of the stair from the main body of the hall. Traces of a number of narrow windows are to be seen at the upper level.

The building is now enveloped by farm buildings on three sides, the fourth side, on the west, being largely collapsed. It is possible that the single-storeyed range on the north side of the tower incorporates parts of a barmkin wall.

The structure appears likely to be of late sixteenth century date, and may have been built in the decades after it was granted to Alexander Hume of Coldinknowis by Mark Ker Commendator of Newbattle in 1559, and before ownership of the castle was resumed by the Kers towards the end of the century.

The area to be scheduled corresponds to the ground area of the upstanding part of the monument, being four-sided and measuring a maximum of 10m by 8m, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a fine representative example of the type of small fortified residence that was developed to meet the needs of lesser land-holders in the Borders in the later middle ages and early modern period, at a time when cross-Border raiding encouraged all with property to make some provision for defence of both household and cattle.

As a consequence of the circumstances under which they were built, and the specific evidence they afford for the unsettled conditions of the time, it is important that as many are preserved as possible, so that patterns of distribution as well as architectural forms can be more completely understood.

The tower derives added significance from the fact that it is preserved within a working farm steading, because of the way this illustrates continuity of domestic and agricultural usage.

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.