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Newbarns is an unenclosed settlement located south-east of Anniston Smithy in Angus, Scotland. The site lies upon bedrock of the Arbuthnott-Garvock Group, Pragian deposits comprising sandstone with subordinate conglomerate, siltstone and mudstone that would have provided ready sources of stone for construction. The settlement is protected as a scheduled monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM6361.
Unenclosed settlements of this type, lacking the defensive ditches and banks characteristic of enclosed homesteads, represent a distinct form of prehistoric and early historic domestic occupation. The absence of fortification suggests a settlement pattern associated with periods of relative stability, where communities chose to concentrate on agriculture and pastoralism rather than defensive measures. Such sites are often found clustered in favourable landscape contexts.
The Arbuthnott-Garvock bedrock underlying Newbarns would have influenced both settlement location and the material culture of its inhabitants. The naturally occurring stone would have been worked for building purposes without requiring quarrying operations, making the site's position economically advantageous. The monument remains an important record of early settlement patterns in Angus, contributing to understanding of how communities utilised and developed this part of eastern Scotland.
Newbarns, unenclosed settlement, SE of Anniston Smithy is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM6361. View the official record →
Newbarns is an unenclosed settlement located south-east of Anniston Smithy in Angus, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM6361.
Newbarns, unenclosed settlement, SE of Anniston Smithy 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 SM6361.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Raesmill Burn, unenclosed settlement 300m ESE of Anniston Mill (0.7 km), St Murdoch's Chapel, church and burial ground (2.5 km), Ethie Mains,fort 750m SE of (2.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Newbarns, unenclosed settlement, SE of Anniston Smithy's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Newbarns, unenclosed settlement, SE of Anniston Smithy stands on Arbuthnott-Garvock Group, bedrock that formed in the Pragian. The rock here is sandstone with subordinate conglomerate, siltstone and mudstone.