Description

The monument comprises the remains of Covington Castle, a medieval tower house with associated earthworks and dovecot, located immediately to the south of Covington Mains and approximately 1km west of the River Clyde. 

The monument is a tower house, believed to have been built in the late 15th century by the Lindsays of Covington. The tower is rectangular in plan and constructed of coursed rubble masonry with walls up to 3m thick and between 7m and 14m in height. Originally the tower stood to four stories but has lost its parapet. The entrance is at ground level near the centre of the north wall. In the northwest corner is a circular stair which is reached by a short flight of straight steps. The ground floor was barrel vaulted (now collapsed and removed) with a loft above and lit by slit windows. Excavation of the ground floor suggests that the area had been divided with wooden partitions. The first floor contained the hall with large window recesses that are arched with dressed ashlar and have windows seats, a large fireplace and a wall cupboard with a roll moulding. There are number of wall chambers at this level, with the one in southwest corner having a trapdoor leading to a prison or strongroom beneath. The tower is surrounded by extensive earthworks which added to the castle's defences and may have helped drain what was a marshy area. Within this area there are also the remains of later gardens, Approximately 60m to the northeast of the tower is beehive shaped dovecot dating to the 16th century. 

The scheduled area is irregular. It includes the remains described above and an area around within which evidence relating to the monument's construction, use and abandonment is expected to survive, as shown in red on the accompanying map. 

The borehole well and all above ground elements of current gates, post and wire fencing, and telegraph poles are specifically excluded from the scheduled area to allow for their maintenance.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance as it makes a significant contribution to the understanding or appreciation of the past as the remains of a medieval castle, consisting of a 15th century tower and associated earthworks, with a later dovecot. The tower has surviving architectural features typical of an early 15th century towerhouse including round headed doorways, arched window recesses with seats, wall chambers, a slop basin and drain, and fireplaces. The surrounding earthworks are substantial although now much silted up. They are a rare and unusual survival in combination with a towerhouse, and it is possible that they predate the 15th century. Covington is documented from the 12th century when Thomas de Colbainestun (Thomas of Covington) is recorded as a witness to an agreement between Ingram, Bishop of Glasgow and Robert de Brus, and by the mid 13th century Covington is recorded as a lordship. The earthworks may therefore be the remains of a high-status moated site, perhaps dating to the 12th century, with the towerhouse replacing less substantial lordly buildings in the 15thcentury. The site is therefore of significance in potentially showing the development of a likely earth and timber moated site into a late medieval masonry castle. The nearby medieval parish church provides important context to monument which adds to its significance.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

Historic Environment Scotland http://www.canmore.org.uk reference number CANMORE ID 47485 (accessed on 05/09/2024).

Historic Environment Scotland http://www.canmore.org.uk reference number CANMORE ID 47486 (accessed on 05/09/2024).

Local Authority HER/SMR Reference 10570, https://www.wosas.net (accessed on 02/09/2024).

Local Authority HER/SMR Reference 10571, https://www.wosas.net (accessed on 02/09/2024).

MacGibbon and Ross, D and T (1887-92) The castellated and domestic architecture of Scotland from the twelfth to the eighteenth centuries, 5v. Edinburgh. Page(s): Vol.3, 239-4.

Ward, T (2018) Excavations and consolidation works at Covington Tower and Doocot, South Lanarkshire, https://biggararchaeology.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Covington_Report.pdf (accessed 05/09/2024)

Canmore

https://canmore.org.uk/site/47485/
https://canmore.org.uk/site/47486/

HER/SMR Reference

https://www.wosas.net/wosas_site.php?id=10571
https://www.wosas.net/wosas_site.php?id=10570

Source: Historic Environment Scotland