Description

The monument comprises the remains of a monastic grange of Medieval date, represented by a series of cropmarks visible on oblique aerial photographs.

The monument lies on level ground in arable farmland at around 45m OD. It comprises a series of features mainly contained within a large rectilinear enclosure. Within the enclosure are a number of rectangular cropmarks, measuring up to 20m in length, which appear to represent the remains of substantial rectangular buildings. There are also numerous pits, lengths of ditch, and other amorphous cropmarks which appear to represent associated lesser structures.

The remains represent the original Coupar Grange, a large centralised farm formed to consolidate the land holdings of Coupar Angus Abbey following its establishment in the mid-12th century. The farm would have been worked by lay brethren and would have supplied the subsistence needs of the abbey. The buildings would have included domestic accommodation, storage buildings, stables, kitchens and other specialised buildings.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related deposits may be expected to be found. It is irregular in shape with maximum dimensions of 240m N-S by 220m EW, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. Above-ground elements of modern field boundaries are excluded from the scheduling.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of the organisation of the medieval monastic economy.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NO 24 SW 74.

Aerial Photography used:

RCAHMS (1989) B17406/CN NO24 SW74.

RCAHMS (1989) B17408/CN NO24SW74.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland