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

  SM5813_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011710)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the major part of the remains of the gunpowder-works at Lochfyne, Furnace, which are situated on the W bank of the Leacann Water, 400m NW of the old iron-furnace. The powderworks were established by Robert Sheriff and son after 1841; they were abandoned following a disastrous explosion in 1883.

The mills were water-powered, steam being used in the drying-process. A dam was constructed and a lade fed a mill-pond in the N of the site. The principal buildings in 1866 were a T-plan range near the E boundary, of which only fragments survive. Other buildings included a glazing-house and two rubble-built magazines (one now demolished); a mound of rubble on the W probably represents the remains of the explosion of 1883.

The most impressive post-1866 building is the range of six incorporating-mills at the N end of the site which were operated from a power-source at the N end of the range; drive shafts ran below the mills in a brick-vaulted tunnel. There was also a three-walled mixing-mill, a new corning house on the NW of the open area, a cooperage and a sawmill. The office and watch-house are now altered and inhabited as dwellings; they have therefore been excluded from the scheduling.

The site was originally extensively wooded for safety purposes, and trees now threaten the stability of many of the buildings. The area to be scheduled measures 340m from N to S by 210m transversely, to include the powderworks and an area around in which associated remains may survive, as marked in red on the attached map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it exhibits the well-defined field characteristics of a relatively rare industrial monument which, in combination with the ironworks at Furnace, form an extensive industrial complex of upstanding buildings and other field remains. The powderworks have the potential to provide information about gunpowder technology, its successes and failures, as well as contemporary social history.

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.