Scheduled Monuments›Scotland›Mains of Edzell, enclosure 170m NNW of
Post-Medieval · Enclosure

Mains of Edzell, enclosure 170m NNW of

Scotland
HES SM6573
Period
Post-Medieval
Site type
Enclosure
Nation
Scotland
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic Environment Scotland

Overview

History & significance

Mains of Edzell enclosure is a post-medieval earthwork situated in Angus, some 170 metres north-north-west of Edzell Castle. The monument survives as a ditch-defined enclosure typical of the early modern period, when such boundaries served to demarcate agricultural land, garden spaces or other managed areas around settled sites in lowland Scotland.

The enclosure lies upon bedrock of the Strathmore Group, Emsian sandstones interbedded with conglomerate, siltstone and mudstone. This geology has shaped the landscape and soils of the Howe of the Mearns throughout history, providing the local building stone visible in regional structures and influencing land use patterns in the area.

The site is protected as a scheduled monument under Historic Environment Scotland reference SM6573, recognition of its significance in understanding post-medieval settlement patterns and land organisation in Angus. The close proximity of Edzell Castle, a major castle complex with tower house and fortified garden, suggests the enclosure may form part of the wider estate landscape associated with that substantial residence, though the specific function and date within the post-medieval period would require further investigation.

Mains of Edzell, enclosure 170m NNW of is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM6573. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Mains of Edzell, enclosure 170m NNW of?

Mains of Edzell enclosure is a post-medieval earthwork situated in Angus, some 170 metres north-north-west of Edzell Castle. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM6573.

What period does Mains of Edzell, enclosure 170m NNW of date from?

Mains of Edzell, enclosure 170m NNW of dates from the post-medieval period, and is classified as a enclosure. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Mains of Edzell, enclosure 170m NNW of?

Mains of Edzell, enclosure 170m NNW of is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM6573.

What other scheduled monuments are near Mains of Edzell, enclosure 170m NNW of?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Keithock, Roman camp N of East Mains of Keithock (5.5 km), Mill of Balrownie,ring ditch 200m SE of (5.8 km), Belliehill, unenclosed settlement 350m NE of (5.8 km).

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Everything a full report reveals about Mains of Edzell, enclosure 170m NNW of

This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Mains of Edzell, enclosure 170m NNW of's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with every monument and battle plotted, and a plain-language history built only from what the record holds.
Monuments
The legally protected scheduled monuments around the location, each with its period, type and significance.
Battlefields
The battles and sieges fought on this ground, mapped and set on a timeline of the wider conflict.
Roman Britain
The Roman roads, forts and towns near here, and the Iron Age people who held the land before Rome arrived.
Stat Accounts
The parish Statistical Accounts of the 1790s and 1830s, describing life, work and population here.
Civil War
The Civil War fighting, garrisons and recorded militaria in this area, woven into the arc of 1642 to 1651.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back hundreds of millions of years.
Local Names
What the street and field names around here actually mean, and the history buried inside them.
Historical Maps
Ordnance Survey maps from the 1800s, layered over the location as it stands today.
Literature
The books, county histories, charters and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Legal
The protected sites nearby and the metal-detecting, access and treasure laws that apply to this ground.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Target Zones
For detectorists: the most promising ground to search nearby, ranked by confidence, with what to expect.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from prehistory to the present day.
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Nearby

Other scheduled monuments within 10 km

Keithock, Roman camp N of East Mains of Keithock
Roman · Roman camp n of east mains of keithock5.5 km
Mill of Balrownie,ring ditch 200m SE of
Ring ditch5.8 km
Belliehill, unenclosed settlement 350m NE of
Unenclosed settlement5.8 km
Balnamoon, souterrain 300m NNW of Meadowburn
Iron Age · Souterrain 300m nnw of meadowburn6.2 km
Gallows Hillock,burial mound 350m WNW of Parkhill
Burial mound 350m wnw of parkhill6.4 km
Templewood,cairn 600m NE of
Cairn6.5 km
Broomfield,enclosure 200m ESE of
Post-Medieval · Enclosure8.5 km
Killievair Stone, standing stone, Barrelwell Smithy
Bronze Age · Standing stone, barrelwell smithy8.7 km
The ground beneath

The bedrock under Mains of Edzell, enclosure 170m NNW of

Mains of Edzell, enclosure 170m NNW of stands on Strathmore Group, bedrock that formed in the Emsian. The rock here is sandstone with subordinate conglomerate, siltstone and mudstone.

All Scheduled Monuments