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

  SM90079_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600014615)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a castle of early medieval date. It is in the care of the Secretary of State for Scotland and is being re-scheduled to clarify the extent of the protected area.

The monument lies at the summit of a low hill on the island of Wyre, at around 25m OD. It comprises a castle, dating to the mid 12th century and altered in subsequent centuries as additions were made to the original building. The earliest building, a small stone tower, measures about 8m square, within walls measuring about 2m thick and standing to a height of about 2m.

Only the ground floor of the tower survives, and a narrow ledge which supported joists for the second floor survives on the inner face of the N wall. There is no doorway in the ground floor of the tower, suggesting that it was entered at first floor level. The tower stands on a platform, enclosed by a ditch with a stone revetted inner face, measuring about 2m deep and lying to the inside of a low earthen rampart.

These outer defences have been levelled on the S to make way for later additions to the tower, but originally would have had an overall diameter of about 45m. The dates of the additions made to the tower are not known. The sequence of additions is, however, clearer.

Two small wings were added to the tower, one on the N side of the E wall measuring about 4m square, and a later wing to the N measuring about 8m E-W by about 5m transversely. Two further additions then enveloped the tower and its early additions to occupy the whole of the platform within the defences, before the S defences were levelled and more buildings erected.

The 'Orkneyinga Saga' records that in the mid 12th century, a Norwegian named Kolbein Hruga built a stone castle on the island of Wyre as a stronghold for himself and his family. His name has been corrupted as Cubbie Roo, or Cobbie Row. The 'Hakonar Saga' records that the castle was besieged in 1231.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is circular with a diameter of 70m, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it represents the earliest documented medieval castle in Scotland and because of what it contributes, or has the potential to contribute through further archaeological excavation and structural investigation, to an understanding of the military and domestic architecture, settlement, economy and material culture of the Norse period. Its importance is enhanced by its association with the nearby graveyard and chapel of St Mary.

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.