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

  SM5773_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011670)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a substantial medieval hall with a small square tower attached.

The remains lie on both sides of the shore wall. On the seaward (W) side of the wall is the lower part of a small, square, tower. Its size and manner of construction suggests a late 12th- or early 13th- century date. The tower stands to a considerable height, but this is obscured by the built-up ground levels around it. Probably at least 3m tall, the interior has a doorway opening NE into an area choked with masonry: all below present external ground level. In the field to the E of the shore wall the foundations of a substantial hall- like dwelling have been located, extending a total of 23m. Both the tower and the hall have been excavated in part, and the excavator of the hall suggested it was not earlier than the 16th century: this may not be accurate, in view of the fact that the attached tower is so convincingly earlier.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan, consisting of an area 50m by 50m in the field to the E of the shore wall and an area 15m by 15m in the field to the W. The above ground structure of the shore wall, which crosses the area, is excluded, as is the above ground structure of the churchyard wall, which forms most of the W boundary. This includes the tower, hall and an area around in which evidence relating to their construction and use may survive, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a fine example of a late Norse or Medieval fortified dwelling house, with very deep deposits offering the potential for the archaeological recovery of important information relating to the evolution of fortifications and the organisation of the upper levels of society in Orkney during the period of its movement from the Scandinavian to the Scottish kingdoms.

The monument gains added importance from its documented history from the mid-16th century and from the association with Sigurd of Westness as a key figure in the early 12th century power struggle with Orkney: it was from Westness that Swein Asleifson abducted Earl Paul II in 1137.

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.