Description

The monument comprises the remains of a farmstead of the period before the agricultural improvements and the surviving parts of its associated field system. The single building of the farmstead measures 40m in length within stone wall footings and is divided into at least 5 compartments; it is overlain near the centre by a small stone building. Separated from the building by a deeply worn disused track are the remains of yards and fields defined by both turf and stone dykes. A further yard, defined by a double ditch lies to the NE of the modern track.

The settlement was abandoned before 1864 but was already described as "Old Town" on an estate map of 1789. The area to be scheduled measures a maximum of 260m NW to SE by 400m transversely, to include the buildings, fields and yards of the farmstead and a portion of the ancient track, as marked in red on the attached map; areas of existing forestry and the areas occupied by the two modern tracks in use at present are specifically excluded.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as a very well preserved pre-improvement farmstead with an unusually large building, with numerous yards, and an extensive fragment of its field system. It has the potential to enhance considerably our understanding of pre-improvement settlement and agriculture.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NO 67 NE 54.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland