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

  SM13328_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014485)

Summary

Description

The monument is the remains of an arched gateway and attached fragment of walling dating probably from the middle of the 12th century. It is visible as a fragment of upstanding medieval masonry, comprising the W jamb and the spring of the arched gateway and an attached section of ashlar sandstone wall. The gateway is sometimes known as the South Port or Nether Yett and would originally have been the main access from the S into the monastic precinct of Dunfermline Abbey. The gateway was subsequently incorporated within the boundary wall of the later abbey church manse and is now dislocated from the main abbey ruins, which lie some 240m to the NW. The monument lies to the S of the burgh of Dunfermline, overlooking Tower Burn and Pittencrieff Park. The monument was originally scheduled in 1981, but the documentation did not meet modern standards: the present amendment rectifies this.

The scheduled area is irregular on plan to include the remains described above and an area around them in which evidence for the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a rare example of an upstanding medieval monastic precinct gateway and fragment of attached precinct wall. It can make a significant contribution to our general understanding of the layout of medieval abbey precincts, medieval construction techniques and medieval concepts of spiritual and temporal separation, as well as to the layout and extent of the precincts of Dunfermline Abbey in particular. The monument survives in good condition and is an integral part of the story of the development of the medieval abbey and burgh. It represents an important component of both the medieval and contemporary urban landscapes. The loss of the monument would diminish our ability to understand the form, function and character of medieval monastic gateways and boundaries in Scotland.

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.