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Stanhope is an unenclosed platform settlement situated to the south-east of Shaw Burn in Peeblesshire, Scotland. The site consists of a levelled area created through deliberate modification of the underlying ground, a characteristic feature of upland farming communities during the Iron Age and earlier medieval periods. The settlement's position on the relatively sheltered slopes above the burn would have provided access to water and grazing land in the rolling Borders landscape.
The ground beneath the site comprises Gala Group wacke, a hard sedimentary bedrock of Telychian age that forms much of the geology of this region. The creation of level platforms in such stone-rich terrain required substantial effort, indicating that occupation here was sufficiently permanent and valued to justify considerable labour investment. This type of unenclosed settlement layout—without defensive ramparts or substantial boundary structures—suggests a community dependent on pastoral farming rather than fortified settlement.
The site is scheduled as a monument of national importance under Historic Environment Scotland reference SM8159, reflecting its significance as evidence of ancient land use and settlement patterns in the Scottish Borders. The unenclosed platform remains an important archaeological record of how communities adapted their settlement strategies to the demands of the upland environment.
Stanhope, unenclosed platform settlement SE of Shaw Burn is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM8159. View the official record →
Stanhope is an unenclosed platform settlement situated to the south-east of Shaw Burn in Peeblesshire, Scotland. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM8159.
Stanhope, unenclosed platform settlement SE of Shaw Burn 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 SM8159.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Stanhope, buildings and enclosure W of Lairdside Knowe (1.1 km), Whiteside Rig, fort & enclosure (4.4 km), Scooped settlement 136m SW of Glenveg (4.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Stanhope, unenclosed platform settlement SE of Shaw Burn'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.
Stanhope, unenclosed platform settlement SE of Shaw Burn stands on Gala Group, bedrock that formed in the Telychian. The rock here is wacke.