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

  SM1489_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600004235)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a stone-built bridge, its approaches and a date-inscribed stone. The monument was first scheduled in 1953, but the documentation neither locates the bridge correctly nor describes the scheduled area with sufficient precision to protect all of the monument: the present rescheduling rectifies this.

The monument comprises the crossing of an ancient track or roadway over a westward-flowing burn and consists of three components: a bridge; splayed, crudely revetted, approaches on either side of the burn; and a dressed stone, inscribed with the date 1694, forming part of the bridge construction. The bridge, measuring approximately 7.5m by 3.2m, spans the burn in two vaults supported by a central pier. On the eastern side, the bridge is of clapper construction; the earthen roadway of the bridge is supported by horizontal slabs resting on pillars of horizontally bedded masonry that form the abutments and the central pier. On its western side, the bridge consists of a double arch, providing clearance to a maximum height of approximately 0.6m above the burn bed. Each arch springs from the rubble-supported burn bank. The arches abut the central pier with the point of contact being in each case, the angled surface of a single, triangular block, which forms the core of the pier. The masonry above the arches is horizontally bedded. It is clear from the point of contact between these two constructions that the western arches are primary. In general the masonry is rough-hewn and lacks mortar. The approaches on both sides of the bridge are much disturbed by cattle but survive as converging lines of stonework forming the kerbing for the road or track; there are additional skins of masonry close to the bridge abutments on the eastern side. The latter probably function as protection when the burn is in spate. The dated stone was moved to its present position, or was placed back in its original position, over the southern span on the eastern side of the bridge, in the 20th century. It may not date a construction phase of the bridge. Its eastern face, measuring 0.8m by 0.17m, has been carved with two full-face heads, between which is set the inscription: 'IL 1694'. The stone is now embedded in, and forms part of the eastern border to, the earthen road surface carried by the bridge masonry.

The area to be scheduled is a circle of diameter 35m centred on the centre of the bridge, to include all components of the bridge including the revetted approaches and the inscribed stone, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. The post and wire fence to the north of the bridge is excluded from scheduling to allow for its maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a well-preserved dry-stone bridge which displays two discrete phases and styles of construction and which once functioned as part of a now relict rural road system. The significance of the monument is enhanced by the presence, within the present fabric of the bridge, of a stone inscribed with the date 1694, initials and two carved faces. The stone cannot, however, provide unequivocal dating evidence for any particular phase of construction, use or ownership of the bridge, but it would not be unreasonable to infer from its presence that the bridge was in existence in the late 17th 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.