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

  SM5358_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011260)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a small castle, known to have been inhabited in the early 16th century, the foundations of ancillary buildings and the causeway which links these to the shore of Loch an Eilean.

The castle survives to a height of 3.8m. It is a simple tower of harled random rubble, oblong in plan, with walls 1.2 to 1.5m thick around an interior 4.0m by 3.4m. The entrance has been in the E wall. A scarcement, to carry an upper floor, survives 2.6m from the interior ground level. In the N wall are two small gun-ports. The island on which the castle stands has been encircled by a bank, probably once a drystone wall, enclosing an area 70m E-W by 50m N-S. Within this, in addition to the tower, are foundations of seven buildings and a small yard. Five of these buildings appear to have been of drystone construction and have very thick walls, while the two exceptions are much more slightly constructed and their foundations are grass-covered. A broad causeway, frequently submerged, links the island to the loch shore. There are historical references to this castle, which belongs to Clanranald, being

occupied in 1505 and 1508.

The area to be scheduled consists of the whole area of the small island together with the causeway linking it to the shore. The width of the area to be scheduled at the latter is 20m, centred on the mid- line of the causeway. The area to be scheduled is marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a fine example of a small Medieval defence, typifying the second tier of such fortifications in the Western Isles. Its importance is enhanced by the presence of historic records of the castle's use and by the strong probability that, because of subsequent lack of disturbance, considerable archaeological deposits may survive.

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.