Description

The site comprises two circular features – a ringwork and a small mound, thought to be the remains of post-medieval stock management activity. The remains are visible as a circular earthen enclosure and a small earthen mound, located on a terrace of upland pasture on the lower slopes of Broughton Heights, at approximately 320m above sea level. 

The earthworks were previously recorded as two types of prehistoric burial monument – an earthen mound or barrow approximately 8m in diameter and an enclosed cremation cemetery measuring approximately 11.5m in diameter. The top of the mound contains a ring bank and there is evidence of turf stripping around its base. There is evidence of turf stripping around and within the circular enclosure and a shallow, intermittent groove in its bank. Both of these monuments appear to overlie cultivation remains of likely post-medieval date. 

The diagnostic form of these features and their superimposition over cultivation remains are consistent with post-medieval agricultural remains, in this case a sheepfold with what maybe an associated fodder store. 

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

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

Intrinsic Characteristics 

The monuments were first recorded in 1967 when surveyors classified the remains as 'barrow' (later reclassified as a 'cairn') and 'ring enclosure' (a prehistoric funerary monument). Results from recent research into a group of sites with similar field characteristics have suggested a much later, post-medieval date and a likely agricultural function. Scrutiny of the features using historic mapping, airborne laser scanning and field inspection reveals the diagnostic features of post-medieval agricultural structures – a sheepfold and likely fodder store. There is evidence of turf stripping around and within the circular enclosure and a shallow, intermittent groove in its bank. Both features overlie earlier cultivation remains of likely post-medieval date. 

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

Contextual characteristics 

The monument (a single sheepfold and likely fodder store) are components of a wider hill farming system built for the management of livestock and located to exploit upland improved pasture between the Pentland Hills and the Moorfoot Hills. It is only partly representative of post-medieval agricultural activity in the wider area. 

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 and associated fodder store does not make a significant contribution to our understanding or appreciation of the past and does not have the potential to do so. The two features are of a simple earth and turf construction with limited archaeological potential in the buried soil layers. The presence of co-located enclosure and feeding features is interesting but this does not provide further, sufficient character. 

b. The sheepfold is not a rare example of its class, with over 3300 examples 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 this example. The fodder store is a less commonly known feature, however, the under recording of this type of monument is consistent with a limited understanding of this class. 

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 these types of agricultural remains. 

d. As an isolated component of a wider agricultural system, the monument does not make a significant contribution to today's landscape or our understanding of the historic landscape. It is one of a cluster of 28 similar sheepfolds within 10km – suggesting a relatively extensive local system.    

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) ID 50089 and 50091. https://www.trove.scot/place/50089 and https://www.trove.scot/place/50091 (accessed on 17/09/2025).

Source: Historic Environment Scotland