Scheduled Monument
Littledean Tower,tower-houseSM5999
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
- 06/06/1994
- Type
- Secular: tower
- Local Authority
- Scottish Borders
- Parish
- Maxton
- NGR
- NT 63270 31308
- Coordinates
- 363270, 631308
Description
The monument consists of the remains of a 16th century tower-house. Marcus Ker is recorded as being of Litill Dene in 1525 and resigned the tower and its fortalice to his son, Andrew in 1550.
The tower, which is now ruinous, was built in two phases, both probably 16th century. The earlier part of the work is a rectangular block which stood four storeys high. To the W end has been added, also in the 16th century, a massive D-shaped tower, which had four storeys and a garret. Although this was added primarily for defence, much additional accommodation was also obtained.
At ground level it has a chamfered base-course; immediately above it are a series of six gunloops, above which is a bold roll-shaped string-course. Midway between the string-course and the wallhead are three windows serving the second floor. The parapet walk has been supported on separate double-membered corbels. The entrance to the tower was provided with two doors.
Evidence of a barmkin attached to the tower has been
noted, although this can no longer be seen. The area to be scheduled is irregular, 100m N-S by 80m E-W, to
include the tower and an area around in which evidence relating to its construction and use, as well as remains of ancillary structures, may be preserved, as marked in red on the accompanying map.
Statement of National Importance
The monument is of national importance because it has the potential to provide archaeological and architectural information on the domestic, cultural and defensive arrangement of a laird's house of the 16th century. It could add to our understanding of the defensive nature of dwellings in the Scottish borders during the 16th century.
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.
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