Description

The site comprises eleven circular enclosures thought to be the remains of post-medieval sheepfolds. Two mounded features are also present and together, these are now thought to relate to post medieval agricultural husbandry and not prehistoric activity. The remains are visible as turf-covered earthworks and mounds. In one example there is a drystone circular structure marking the position and extent of the sheepfold. They group is located on relatively flat, west-facing upland grazing below Pyked Stane Hill at approximately 340m above sea level. 

The eleven enclosures and associated features are clustered in pairs or threes and dispersed over 650m at the bottom of a hill slope and close to two water courses. The enclosures are each defined by a low circular turf bank, measuring between 14m and 22m in diameter. Two examples are noted as having characteristic grooves visible on the top of the banks and one example has a curved annexe feature, likely a pen for lambs. Adjacent to the most northerly and southerly pairs of enclosures are small single earth and stone mounds measuring approximately 7m and 6m in diameter. Elements of rig and furrow cultivation have also survived in and around the centre of the group of enclosures.   

The form and location of the enclosures are consistent with turf-walled sheepfolds and therefore, post-medieval in date, probably from the 18th and/or 19th centuries. The mounds are not thought to be prehistoric and are likely associated with the post medieval remains. 

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

This statement of national importance has been informed by the following assessment of cultural significance:

Intrinsic characteristics (how the remains of a site or place contribute to our knowledge of the past).

The monument was first recorded in 1962 when the features were variously interpreted as ring enclosures, sheepfolds and barrows (possible). These features were categorised chronologically among prehistoric classes of monument where '...a prehistoric date is suspected' but where no further interpretation was offered (RCAHMS 1967, pp v, 55, 66-69). Later additions to the National Record of the Historic Environment revised the interpretation to indicate a much later animal husbandry function such as a sheepfolds. While both mounds were previously recorded as barrows, one of them is described as 'possible only', while the second example is thought now to too slight to have a prehistoric burial function. Their position and form are now thought to relate to the agricultural remains adjacent to them. 

A review of the class of sites called 'ring enclosures' 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 it has many features which identify this as a group of post medieval sheepfolds. The earthworks are generally sharp, indicative of a relatively recent date. Some have evidence of turf stripping halos, and some overlie rig and furrow cultivation. In four of the features recorded, historic Ordnance Survey mapping records them as 'Old Sheepfold(s)'. The mounds once identified as barrows, are now not considered to be prehistoric features, but relate to post medieval agricultural activities. 

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

Contextual characteristics (how a site or place relates to its surroundings and/or to our existing knowledge of the past)

The group of eleven sheepfolds, mounds and contemporary agricultural remains is a component of a wider hill farming system, exploiting upland improved pasture at the western edge of the Moorfoot Hills. It is only partly representative of the wider 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 (how a site or place relates to people, events, and/or historic and social movements)

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 group of eleven post-medieval livestock enclosures, adjacent mounds and associated agricultural remains does not make a significant contribution to our understanding or appreciation of the past and does not have the potential to do so. The features are of a simple earth and turf, circular / mounded construction with limited archaeological potential in the buried soil layers.   

b. The monument is not a rare example of its class, with over 280 examples of ring enclosure (used to describe small circular enclosure of an agricultural nature defined by a turf or earthen bank) recorded in the national record and approximately 25 examples known of within 10km of this location. There are an additional 3316 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 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.      

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

Historic Environment Scotland https://www.trove.scot/. Trove Place IDs 50084, 50099, 50103, 50109, 50111, 50112 (accessed on 07/07/2025).

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