Description

The site comprises a single circular earthwork circular bank thought to be the remains of a post-medieval stock control feature. The remains are visible as a low, circular turf-covered earthen feature and circular stone and earthwork mound within. It is located at the edge of an open area of mature conifer woodland at approximately 280m above sea level. 

The earthwork is situated in a clearing and comprises a turf ring bank up to 3m across enclosing an area measuring about 16.5m across. There is a break in the ringwork in the southeastern quadrant, approximately 0.8m wide. A turf mound is visible in the approximate centre of interior, measuring approximately 4m in diameter by approximately 0.5m high. 

The form and location of the features are consistent with turf-walled sheepfolds and therefore, post-medieval in date, probably from the 18th and/or 19th centuries. 

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The culture significance of the site has been assessed as follows: 

Intrinsic Characteristics 

The monument was first recorded in 1961 when surveyors interpreted the remains as a probable enclosed cremation cemetery, noting the presence of an earthen penannular ringwork and a small stony mound at the centre of the interior. 

A review of the class of sites called 'ring enclosures' and 'enclosed cremation cemetery' has clarified the likely origins and function of such enclosures showing that they are most likely to be post-medieval sheepfolds. Investigating the field characteristics of this example using historic mapping and airborne laser scanning shows that this example has features which identify this as a post medieval sheepfold. The earthwork is sharply defined, indicating a relative late date, with an entrance to the southwest and a distinct central tump where an area of turf has been left uncut. The feature is depicted as a pecked line on the 1st edition of the 6-inch map and annotated 'Old Sheepfold'. These characteristics are common to the turf-built post-medieval sheepfolds that are found across the Border Hills.

These remains are therefore a relatively common feature of post-medieval agricultural activity. They are simple turf and stone-built structures with relatively low archaeological potential. 

Contextual characteristics 

The monument (a single sheepfold) is a component of a wider hill farming system, exploiting upland improved pasture along lower ground between the Pentland Hills to the West and the Moorfoot Hills further to the East. There are two other enclosure features nearby (scheduled monument SM4624). These were originally interpreted as prehistoric features (enclosed cremation cemeteries or round houses) but again are now believed to represent post medieval sheepfolds. The presence of other sheepfolds in the vicinity supports the interpretation that this too is an example of a sheepfold. This evidence strongly supports a post-medieval date and agricultural function – turf enclosures used to manage sheep on upland grazing.

It is only partly representative of post-medieval agricultural activity taking place here. It is part of a wider regional distribution of similar earthen structures built for the management of livestock. It is not a rare survivor of its type and taken in isolation from the agricultural system to which it belongs, it has limited potential to help us understand how the wider landscape has developed.  

Associative characteristics 

No known associative character relating to this monument. 

National importance

The site does not meet the criterion of national importance for the following reasons: 

a. The monument, as a single post-medieval livestock enclosure, does not make a significant contribution to our understanding or appreciation of the past and does not have the potential to do so. The feature is of a simple earth, turf and stone construction with limited archaeological potential in the buried soil layers. 

b. The monument is not a rare example of its class, with over 3300 examples of sheepfolds recorded which will include a wide variety of enclosures used to collect and control sheep. Some of these will include turf or earthen bank enclosures of a similar form to these examples. 

c. The monument does not have sufficient research potential with which to significantly contribute to our understanding or appreciation of the past. There is limited scientific, archaeological, historic or traditional, interest in this type of agricultural remains. 

d. As part of a small group of three enclosures and an isolated component of a wider agricultural system, the monument does not a significant contribution to today's landscape or our understanding of the historic landscape. 

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

Historic Environment Scotland https://www.trove.scot/ reference number NRHE ID 50206 (accessed on 04/12/2025).

Bradford, B., Connolly, D., Hawker-Yates, L., Kdolska, H., Paice, C., Scott, G., & Wiseman, R. (2020). Archaeology on Furlough: Sheepfolds of the Lammermuirs. Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository. https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.60154.

RCAHMS 1967, The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Peeblesshire: an inventory of the ancient monuments. The Stationery Office. Edinburgh.

RCAHMS 1997, Eastern Dumfriesshire: an archaeological landscape. The Stationery Office. Edinburgh.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland