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

  SM9540_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600002937)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises a substantial rectilinear enclosure of probable medieval date, tentatively interpreted as a moated homestead. The site is visible as a cropmark on oblique aerial photographs and lies in arable farmland at about 45m OD, some 420m WSW of Ash Keys.

The cropmark shows a rectilinear enclosure measuring some 90m ENE-WSW by 60m transversely, defined by a ditch about 2m wide on the SW, S and NE sides, and by a broad ditch some 4.5m wide on the N side. An entrance gap is apparent in the NE half of the northern ditch. A second broad ditch runs SSE from the N ditch and appears to sub-divide the enclosure into two compartments, with an entrance present through the northern half of this sub-dividing ditch. A small rectilinear feature is visible immediately S of the northern ditch.

Another rectilinear cropmark is present within the NE corner of the enclosure and a possible second is visible within the western compartment. These features appear to be more slightly built and may represent the footprints of internal buildings. At least two circular features are also visible within the interior of the enclosure. The cropmark of a field boundary, present on the First Edition Ordnance Survey map, is visible on the southern side of the enclosure.

The monument sits in an E-W aligned hollow with higher ground to the S and N. It lies close to an open burn flowing northwards and there is a suspicion that a second burn may have been culverted (to create one larger field) and which may have fed the S moat. The natural hollow appears to be wetter than the surrounding land, which might indicate a high potential for waterlogged deposits to survive in the ditches.

There is no known historical evidence for this site, although the church of Aberuthven and its lands, of which this formed a part, are known to have been granted to Inchaffray Abbey by Ferteth, Earl of Strathearn, before 1171. After the Reformation the abbey's lands were secularised as the temporal lordship of Madderty in favour of James Drummond, although the lands of Kirklands were occupied by Grahams.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to survive. It is sub-rectangular in shape with maximum measurements of 110m WSW-ENE by 69m NNW-ESE, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of high status medieval settlement and economy. Its importance is increased by the possibility that its ditches might preserve waterlogged deposits, with a corresponding high potential for the survival of environmental evidence.

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.