Scheduled Monument

Boghall Castle,BiggarSM5265

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
19/03/1992
Type
Secular: castle; domestic buildings
Local Authority
South Lanarkshire
Parish
Biggar
NGR
NT 04049 36987
Coordinates
304049, 636987

Description

The monument consists of the remains of Boghall Castle, the medieval fortified residence of the Flemings. Boghall is an example of a courtyard plan castle of 15th century date. It is situated in a field SE of Boghall Farm. The visible remains consist of three towers on a slightly raised platform. There was apparently another round tower in the SE angle of the barmkin but not in the SW.

The extent of the buried enceinte wall may be gathered from 18th century artists' impressions and written sources. Excavation has revealed the position of a gatehouse mid-way along the N wall. The fortified courtyard incorporates the remains of a later 17th-century T-plan house which is located in the SE portion. Of this house, only a portion of the square entrance tower containing a spiral staircase remains.

The area to be scheduled is square with sides measuring a maximum of 100m to include the castle and associated underlying structures, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an impressive example of a purely defensive work later modified to accommodate a more modern domestic range. Existing documentary material and the survival of underlying archaeological remains increase its value and potential to yield information relevant to studies of the development of defensive sites into domestic ones and to Scottish medieval historic both in local and national contexts.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NT 03 NW 17.

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.

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Printed: 23/10/2025 06:03