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

  SM3744_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600009782)

Summary

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a medieval motte and bailey castle, which controlled a nearby ford across the River Dee. The monument was first scheduled in 1975, but subsequent development of Norwood Hall Hotel, immediately adjacent, has necessitated the present re-scheduling.

The motte, known as Castleheugh, comprises an irregular oval mound c.40m long by 25m wide, with regularly scarped sides. This is surmounted by a smaller mound with an artificial level top measuring 7m by 3m. The site as a whole stands to a maximum height of c.4.5m. The ground surface immediately around the motte is flat and grassed over. The presence of a bailey was recorded in 1961 but no trace of it is visible today; it may have been removed by landscaping around the motte.

Originally Pitfoddels belonged to the Moray family, passing in the late 14th century to the Reids. In the early 16th century, it passed by marriage to the Menzies, and it was probably they who were responsible for erecting a late medieval stone-built castle within the bailey of the earlier motte. This castle was ruinous by the 18th century but the site remained in the hands of the Menzies until 1843.

The area to be scheduled is irregular on plan, with maximum dimensions of 70m from its easternmost to its westernmost point by 32m due N-S to include the motte and an area around it in which evidence relating to its construction and use may be expected to survive. The geogrid access road and car parking area is excluded from scheduling to allow for its maintenance.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as the substantial remains of a medieval motte. Although partly damaged by recent development and earlier landscaping, it retains considerable potential to provide important information about the architecture and use of defensive and domestic structures in medieval period, and about their place in the contemporary landscape.

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.