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

  SM7770_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600013190)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the fragmentary remains of a simple 16th-century tower house measuring approximately 14m by 7m.

The building appears to have been a simple rectangular block in plan, aligned E-W with the main stair at the E end, possibly in an outshot. While the E gable is reduced to its footings, the W gable appears to stand to full height, showing the building to have consisted of vaulted ground floor, first floor hall with solar and an attic storey. A particular feature of the building are the small gun loops which survive beneath some of the windows.

Bannachra was built by the Colquhouns sometime after they acquired the associated lands in 1512, presumably on the site of the principal building of the previous owners, the Galbraiths. In 1592 it was attacked and taken by the MacGregors who killed Sir Humphrey Colquhoun with an arrow fired through a stair window. It does not appear to have been repaired after the damage it suffered in this episode.

The castle now stands within and forms part of the gardens of Bannachra House. The area to be scheduled extends 5m out from the N, S, and W walls of the tower, and 1m out from the line of the E wall. The area measures approximately 20m E-W by 17m and is marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

This monument is of national importance as the remains of a 16th-century towerhouse. Although considerable parts of the building are missing, it is still possible to recognise it as marking the transition between largely defensive and largely domestic architecture.

Although both the interior and the exterior of the tower have been incorporated into the gardens of the later house, it appears that the ground levels have risen so that the archaeology of the site still holds considerable potential to tell more about this building and its short life.

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.