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

  SM6590_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600012474)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a series of small horizontal water-mills and their water-supply systems, together with a prehistoric burnt mound.

There are at least 4 mills, of which 2 have been partly restored. They are of typical "Norse mill" or "Click mill" type. Each drew water from the same stream by means of small channels and sluices, and the area which fed the mills is still rather marshy. Several of the discarded millstones lie within the area, near to the mill sites. In earlier times this same marshy area provided water for use at a burnt mound, a prehistoric cooking place, and this mound is also included in the scheduling.

The area to be scheduled consists of 2 parts: the basin of the Burn of Gilsetter to the S of the modern road, and a smaller section to the N of the road. The larger section is defined on the N and W by the edge of the road. To the E, where the road turns away, the N boundary of the scheduled area is formed by the break of slope above the small ravine into which the burn flows. The S boundary follows the line of a drain and a fence for most of its route.

This part is a maximum of 660m from its SW to its NE corners by 160m. The small part is bounded on the S by the N edge of the road, and measures a maximum of 160m WNW-ESE by 70m transversely. Both parts are as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. The above-ground elements of several structures within the scheduled area, used to trap migratory birds, are excluded from scheduling, as are the water-supply dam and reservoir, to allow for their ease of maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a fine group of small mills, in varying states of repair, together with their water-supply arrangements. It illustrates the degree of sophistication attained in subsistence agricultural technology during the medieval and early modern periods. The prehistoric burnt mound is itself of importance as a good field example of this class of monument, an accidental survival which serves to indicate how many such monuments may have been lost to later activity.

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.