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

  SM5853_Legal Doc

  Download(https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600011750)

Summary

Description

The monument consists of the remains of a small castle, possibly originally a dun, situated on an islet off Calvay, on the S side of Loch Boisdale.

The islet on which the castle sits was formerly connected to Calvay by a causeway, but this has now almost completely gone. On the landward side a curving wall of irregular thickness and of drystone masonry appears to be the earliest element of the remians: it may be part of a dun. The W, N and NE sides of a polygonal enclosure are

formed by badly mortared walls of rough rubble, in places

incorporating substantial stretches of earlier, unmortared, walling.

The fortification has maximum overall dimensions of 30m SW-NE by 20m. A number of gun-slits are evident, particularly on the W side. There are two main internal buildings, both abutting and incorporating the outer wall. On the SW corner a small square structure some 4m by 4m externally may have been a low tower overlooking the approach from Calvay. On the N side is a bicameral rectangular block some 13m by 6m externally, possibly formed by the eastward extension of a smaller structure.

The remains are too ruinous to be certain about the

phasing of construction. The area to be scheduled consists of the whole of the small islet, above the edge of the tidal rocks: this coincides with the enclosure and its interior, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as a fine example of a 'castle' created by the adaptation of a pre-existing fortification with the minimum of work, creating a curious mixture of features which offers the potential to examine insular perspectives on the necessary attributes of medieval defensive architecture. The internal areas and walls of the castle may contain important information about the date and modifications of the defences, and about later Iron Age and Medieval material culture.

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.