Scheduled Monument

Castlehill, fort 250m WSW ofSM2959

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
11/06/1971
Last Date Amended
23/01/2002
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: fort (includes hill fort and promontory fort)
Local Authority
Scottish Borders
Parish
Manor
NGR
NT 21113 35373
Coordinates
321113, 635373

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a defended settlement dating from the Iron Age period. The monument was originally scheduled in 1971, but the area covered by the designation did not relate accurately to the remains on the ground. The current rescheduling rectifies this.

The fort lies at around 275m OD on a rocky knoll on the E end of Whitelaw Rig, overlooking the valley of the Manor Water. It is defined by the remains of an oval rampart, running around the natural knoll and enclosing some flatter ground on the S and W sides. The rampart fades on the NE side and it is not clear whether this area was ever fully enclosed. The platforms for at least seven buildings have been identified on the site. Only two are located on the summit with the rest built around the base of the knoll. Five contiguous, crescentic scarps on the N end of the knoll were probably caused by quarrying material for the adjacent rampart.

The area to be scheduled is irregular in shape, measuring a maximum of 120m NE-SW by 100m NW-SE, as shown in red on the attached map extract. The above-ground elements of field boundaries within the scheduled area are specifically excluded from the scheduling designation.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of later prehistoric settlement, economy and social organisation. The relationship between possible different phases of occupation of this site further enhances its importance, as does its proximity to other settlement sites of similar date but different form.

References

Bibliography

The monument is recorded in the RCAHMS as NT 23 NW 1.

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

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Printed: 05/11/2026 06:15