Scheduled Monument

Crinan Harbour, pyroligneous acid worksSM5814

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
30/11/1993
Last Date Amended
20/12/1999
Type
Industrial: chemical
Local Authority
Argyll And Bute
Parish
North Knapdale
NGR
NR 78336 94073
Coordinates
178336, 694073

Description

The monument consists of the roofless and partly demolished remains of a small stone building erected as a pyroligneous acid factory in about 1840, an associated brick chimney stack, and an area in which evidence of construction and use of the site may survive. The monument was first scheduled in 1993, but included areas over which there were live planning applications.

It has therefore become necessary to reduce the area protected to the industrial core of the site. The area to be scheduled is irregularly shaped, and extends approximately 87m from north to south by 56m from east to west, as indicated in red on the attached map. The scheduling excludes modern boundary fences

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the most complete surviving pyroligneous acid works in Scotland, and possibly in Britain. The process carried on here was the distillation of wood to produce a crude acetic acid which was transported to Glasgow to make mordants for the internationally important calico printing industry of the Vale of Leven.

References

Bibliography

No Bibliography entries for this designation

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: 13/09/2026 01:59