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

  SM5534_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011434)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of Clackriach Castle, a small defensive residence of late 16th/early 17th century date. The lands of Clackriach belonged to a branch of the family of Keith. Robert Keith, the grandson of the fourth Earl Marishal of Scotland, had the lands and the baronies erected into the temporal Lordship of Altrie in 1587, the charter of which included "Clauckriauch" and the Mill of Crichie.

The fragmentary remains of this dwelling are located in a small wood 50m NNW of the farmhouse at Mains of Clackriach. In the late 19th century it was described as, "a quadrangular building, having a projecting wing". All that survives of the structure now is the N angle. The walls are 1m thick and are composed of pinned boulder-rubble with a rubble core. The remaining angle portion measures 2.3mm NW-SE by 2.6m NE-SW internally and is two storeys high (c.6m).

The first floor is indicated by a scarcement which carried the joists for a timber floor. On the first floor the NW wall terminates in the splayed jamb of a lintelled window which is grooved for glass in the upper two thirds, the lower portion probably having wooden shutters. Hollowed out in the NW angle is a semi-circular recess with a door

jamb; this may have been a garderobe or held a newel stair.

Presumably much of the masonry has been re-used in field dykes and in the steading lying to the ENE. The area to be scheduled is rectangular, measuring a maximum of 20m NE-SW by 10m NW-SE, to include the upstanding portion of the tower and related buried features, as shown in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because it is an example, albeit fragmentary, of a site of defensive occupation dating from the late 16th/early 17th century. As such, it provides upstanding evidence which contributes to our understanding of the nature and complexity of domestic buildings during the late medieval/early modern period in Scotland. It also has the potential to provide further evidence, through a combination of historical research and archaeological excavation, which may clarify the position, layout and social archaeology of the building.

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.