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

  SM5275_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011178)

Summary

Description

The monument is the ruin of Kilmaronock Castle (also known as Mains Castle), which dates from the late fifteenth to the early sixteenth century.

The castle is situated 350m NE of Kilmaronock church. It consists of a tower-house measuring 12m E-W by 9.7m over walls 2.3m thick and stands about 16m high on a battered base (1.5m in height). The tower has four storeys, the first three of which have been vaulted, and a garret. A rectangular structure that once projected from the S wall may have been a latrine turret. The keep is rubble built using grey and red stone with fine red freestone for dressings and quoins. The main entrance was in the second floor in the centre of the E wall. It led straight into the hall and communicated with a stair in the SE angle. The main newel staircase was in the NE angle. The hall fireplace is in the W wall and is centred between two small windows. The main light came from two large square-headed windows in the N and S walls set towards the W end (these had external mullion and transom decoration-now obscured by vegetation). The floor above had round- headed windows; there are complex mural chambers in this storey. A

small minstrels' gallery sits above the main entrance. The kitchen was contained in the E portion of the first floor with scullery in the W. The lower floor contains a cellar in the W and a prison in the E, each independently accessible by stairs from the floor above.

The area to be scheduled is rectangular measuring a maximum of 16m E-W by 14m N-S to be centred on the castle and extending 2m from the exterior walls of the building, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as it is a well preserved example of a medieval keep dating from the late fifteenth to the early sixteenth century. As such it preserves evidence, and has the potential to provide further evidence through analysis and excavation, for baronial architecture, defensive and domestic occupation and material culture.

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.