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List of oldest buildings in Scotland

{{Short description|None}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

File:Abernethy Round Tower 20090618.jpg, which dates from 1100 AD.[http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertydetail.htm?PropID=PL_003&PropName=Abernethy%20Round%20Tower "Abernethy Round Tower"]. Historic Scotland. Retrieved 13 August 2012.]]

This article lists the oldest extant freestanding buildings in Scotland. In order to qualify for the list a structure must:

  • be a recognisable building (defined as any human-made structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or continuous occupancy);
  • incorporate features of building work from the claimed date to at least {{convert|1.5|m|ft}} in height and/or be a listed building.

This consciously excludes ruins of limited height, roads and statues. Bridges may be included if they otherwise fulfill the above criteria. Dates for many of the oldest structures have been arrived at by radiocarbon dating and should be considered approximate.

The main chronological list includes buildings that date from no later than 1199 AD. Although the oldest building on the list is the Neolithic farmhouse at Knap of Howar, the earliest period is dominated by chambered cairns, numerous examples of which can be found from the 4th millennium BC through to the early Bronze Age.

Estimates of the number of broch sites throughout the country, which date from the Iron Age, range from just over 100 to over 500.Armit (2003) p. 16 However, only a small percentage are sufficiently well preserved for them to be included here and some of those that could be remain undated.

As there are relatively few structures from the latter half of the first millennium AD and a significant number from the 12th century, the latter group is placed in a sub-list. There are larger numbers of extant qualifying structures from 1200 onwards and separate lists for 13th-century castles and religious buildings are provided. As the oldest buildings in many of the council areas in the more urbanised Central Belt date from after the 14th century, a separate list showing oldest buildings by council area is provided.

File:Skara Brae - geograph.org.uk - 888338.jpg, part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site]]

There is also a supplementary list of qualifying structures for which no confirmed date of construction is available and a short listing of substantial prehistoric structures that are not buildings as defined above.

Main list

{{Incomplete list|date=July 2012}}

=Neolithic and Bronze Age=

class="wikitable sortable"
Building

! Image

! Location

! Council area

! First built

! Use

! Notes

Knap of Howar

| 100px

| Papa Westray

| Orkney

| 3700 BC

| House

| Oldest preserved stone house in north west Europe.[http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=PL_190 "Knap of Howar"] Historic Scotland. Retrieved 23 Sept 2011.[http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/knaphowar.htm "The Knap o' Howar, Papay"]. Orkneyjar. Retrieved 13 July 2012.Wickham-Jones (2007) p. 40.

Midhowe Chambered Cairn

| 100px

| Rousay

| Orkney

| 3500 BC

| Tomb

| A well-preserved example of the Orkney-Cromarty type on the island of Rousay.[http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/tombs/midhowe/index.html "The Midhowe Stalled Cairn, Rousay"]. Orkneyjar. Retrieved 13 July 2012.

Unstan Chambered Cairn

|100px

| Stenness

| Orkney

|3450 BC

|Tomb

|Excavated in 1884, when grave goods were found, giving their name to Unstan ware.[http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertydetail.htm?PropID=PL_296&PropName=Unstan%20Chambered%20Cairn "Unstan Chambered Cairn"]. Historic Scotland. Retrieved 21 July 2012.Wickham-Jones (2007) p. 48

Knowe of Yarso chambered cairn

|100px

| Rousay

| Orkney

|3350 BC

|Tomb

|One of several Rousay tombs. It contained numerous deer skeletons when excavated in the 1930s.Fraser, David (1980) Investigations in Neolithic Orkney. Glasgow Archaeological Journal. 7 p. 13. ISSN 1471-5767[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/2623/details/rousay+knowe+of+yarso/ "Rousay, Knowe of Yarso"]. Canmore. Retrieved 20 July 2012.Wickham-Jones (2007) pp. 56-57

Quanterness chambered cairn

|File:Chambered Cairn and Farm House - geograph.org.uk - 1075905.jpg

| St Ola

| Orkney

|3250 BC

|Tomb

|The remains of 157 individuals were found inside when excavated in the 1970s.Wickham-Jones (2007) p. 50

Skara Brae

| 100px

| Sandwick

|Orkney

| 3180 BC

| Settlement

| Northern Europe's best preserved Neolithic village.Clarke, David (2000) Skara Brae; World Heritage Site. Historic Scotland. {{ISBN|1900168979}}Scottish Archaeological Research Framework ([https://scarf.scot/ ScARF]) National Framework. [https://scarf.scot/national/scarf-neolithic-panel-report/4-lifeways-and-lifestyles/4-3-places-to-live-and-ways-of-living/ Neolithic: Places to Live and Ways of Living]. Accessed May 2022.

Tomb of the Eagles

|100px

|South Ronaldsay

|Orkney

| 3150 BC

|Tomb

|In use for 800 years or more. Numerous bird bones were found here, predominantly white-tailed sea eagle.[http://www.tomboftheeagles.co.uk/ "Tomb of the Eagles"] tomboftheeagles.co.uk. Retrieved 11 February 2008.Hedges, J. 1990. Tomb of the Eagles: Death and Life in a Stone Age Tribe. New Amsterdam Books. {{ISBN|0-941533-05-0}} p. 73

Grey Cairns of Camster

|100px

| Upper Camster

| Highland

|3000 BC or older

|Tomb

|A group of three cairns.[http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=10839 "Grey Cairns of Camster"]. Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 21 July 2012.[http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/places/propertyresults/propertydetail.htm?PropID=PL_146&PropName=Grey%20Cairns%20Of%20Camster "Grey Cairns of Camster"]. Historic Scotland. Retrieved 21 July 2012.

Blackhammer Chambered Cairn

| 100px

| Rousay

| Orkney

| 3000 BC

| Tomb

| An Orkney–Cromarty chambered cairn, characterized by stalled burial compartments.{{cite web |title=Blackhammer Chambered Cairn |url=https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/blackhammer-chambered-cairn/ |website=Historic Environment Scotland |access-date=4 January 2024}}

Taversoe Tuick chambered cairn

|100px

|Rousay

|Orkney

| 3000 BC

|Tomb

|Unusually, there is an upper and lower chamber.[http://www.orkneyjar.com/tombs/tav "The Taversoe Tuick, Rousay"]{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Orkneyjar. Retrieved 17 July 2012.

Holm of Papa chambered cairn

|100px

|Holm of Papa

|Orkney

| 3000 BC

|Tomb

|The central chamber is over 20 metres long.[http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Info_Board,_Holm_of_Papa_Westray_Cairn_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1364557.jpg "Info Board, Holm of Papa Westray Cairn"] Wikimedia Commons/Historic Scotland. Retrieved 17 July 2012.Wickham-Jones (2007) pp. 62-63

Barpa Langass

| 100px

| North Uist

| Na h-Eileanan Siar

| 3000 BC

|Tomb

|The best preserved chambered cairn in the Hebrides.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/10236/details/north+uist+barpa+langass/ "North Uist, Barpa Langass"]. Canmore. Retrieved 18 July 2012.Armit (1996) p. 71

Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn

|100px

| Finstown

| Orkney

|3000 BC

|Tomb

|Excavated in 1901, when it was found to contain the bones of men, dogs and oxen.[http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/tombs/cuween/index.html "The Cuween Hill Cairn, Firth"]. Orkneyjar. Retrieved 21 July 2012.[http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertydetail.htm?PropID=PL_084&PropName=Cuween "Cuween Hill Chambered Cairn"]. Historic Scotland. Retrieved 21 July 2012.

Cairnpapple Henge

|File:CairnpappleHill.jpg

|Bathgate

|West Lothian

|3000 BC

|Tomb

|A Class II henge constructed around 3000 BC. It is designated a scheduled ancient monument with a small visitor centre.

Quoyness cairn

| 100px

| Sanday

| Orkney

|2900 BC

|Tomb

|An arc of Bronze Age mounds surrounds this cairn.[http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/tombs/quoyness/index.html "The Quoyness Cairn, Sanday"]. Orkneyjar. Retrieved 19 July 2012.

Maeshowe

|100px

|Stenness

|Orkney

| 2800 BC

|Tomb

|The entrance passage is {{convert|36|ft|m}} long and leads to the central chamber measuring about {{convert|15|ft|m}} on each side.{{cite book | last = Childe | first = V. Gordon |author2=W. Douglas Simpson | title = Illustrated History of Ancient Monuments: Vol. VI Scotland | publisher = Her Majesty's Stationery Office | year = 1952 | location = Edinburgh }} pp.18-19{{cite book | last = Ritchie | first = Graham & Anna | title = Scotland: Archaeology and Early History | publisher = Thames and Hudson | year = 1981 | location = New York | isbn = 0-500-27365-0}} p. 29

Stanydale Temple

|100px

|Mainland

| Shetland

|2500–2000 BC

|Possibly a residence

|The only surviving megalithic structure from prehistoric Shetland.{{cite web |title=Stanydale Temple |url=https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/stanydale-temple/ |website=Historic Environment Scotland |access-date=21 January 2024}}

Crantit cairn

|

| Kirkwall

| Orkney

|2130 BC

|Tomb

|Discovered in 1998 near Kirkwall.[https://archive.today/20121223214326/http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/c14/?numlink=141720&nmrsname=Crantit&sample_id= "C14 Radiocarbon dating for Crantit"] Canmore. Retrieved 20 July 2012.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/141720/details/crantit/ "Crantit"] Canmore. Retrieved 20 July 2012.

Rubha an Dùnain passage grave

| 100px

| Skye

| Highland

|2000 BC or older

|Tomb

|On a now uninhabited peninsula to the south of the Cuillin hills.Armit (1996) p. 73[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/11028/details/skye+rubh+an+dunain+viking+canal// "Skye, Rubh' An Dunain, 'Viking Canal' "]. Canmore. Retrieved 7 May 2011.[http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/early%20ages/clava_cairns.htm "The Cairns of Clava, Scottish Highlands"]. The Heritage Trail. Retrieved 19 July 2012.

Wideford Hill chambered cairn

| 100px

| Kirkwall

| Orkney

|2000 BC

|Tomb

| Similar to Maeshowe in design. The tomb was excavated in the 1840s by Flinders Petrie.{{cite web |title=Wideford Hill|url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/2483/wideford-hill|website=Canmore|access-date=8 January 2024}}

Corrimony chambered cairn

|100px

| Drumnadrochit

| Highland

|2000 BC or older

|Tomb

|A Clava-type passage grave surrounded by a circle of 11 standing stones.[http://www.glenaffric.org/corrimony.html "Corrimony Chambered Cairn & RSPB Nature Reserve"]. Glen Affric.org. Retrieved 21 July 2012.[http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertydetail.htm?PropID=PL_073&PropName=Corrimony%20Chambered%20Cairn "Corrimony Chambered Cairn"]. Historic Scotland. Retrieved 21 July 2012.

Balnuaran of Clava

| 100px

| Nairn

| Highland

|2000 BC

|Tomb

|The largest of three is the north-east cairn, which was partially reconstructed in the 19th century. The central cairn may have been used as a funeral pyre."A Visitors’ Guide to Balnuaran of Clava: A prehistoric cemetery". (2012) Historic Scotland.Bradley, Richard (1996) Excavation at Balnuaran of Clava, 1994 and 1995. Highland Council.

Vinquoy chambered cairn

|100px

| Eday

| Orkney

|2000 BC

|Tomb

|At an elevated location on the north end of the island.Uney, Graham (2010) Walking on the Orkney and Shetland Isles: 80 Walks in the Northern Isles. Cicerone Press. p. 71

Glebe cairn

|100px

| Kilmartin Glen

| Argyll and Bute

|1700 BC

|Tomb

|An early Bronze Age structure with two stone cists.[http://www.saintsandstones.net/stones-glebe-journey.htm "Glebe cairn"]. Saints and Stones. Retrieved 4 August 2012.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/39537/details/kilmartin+glebe/ "Kilmartin Glebe"]. Canmore. Retrieved 4 August 2012.

=Iron Age=

class="wikitable sortable"
Building

! Image

! Location

! Council area

! First built

! Use

! Notes

Dun Ringill

|100px

| Strathaird, Skye

| Highland

|1st millennium BC

|Semi-broch

|Known to have been occupied in the medieval period by Clan Mackinnon. The ground floor living space is only 47 square metres.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/11431/details/skye+dun+ringill/ "Skye, Dun Ringill"]. Canmore. Retrieved 4 August 2012.Miers (2008) p. 215

Old Scatness

|100px

|Sumburgh

|Shetland

|400–200 BC

| Broch and wheelhouse

|Like Jarlshof the site was occupied by Iron Age peoples, Picts, and Vikings.[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/shetland/oldscatnessbroch/index.html "Old Scatness Broch"]. Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 29 July 2012.

Dun Troddan

|100px

| Glenelg

| Highland

|4th century BC to 1st century AD

|Broch

|One of the best-preserved brochs, the dry-stone walls surviving to over 7 m in height in places.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/11797/details/dun+troddan/ "Dun Troddan"]. Canmore. Retrieved 27 July 2012.Miers (2008) p. 172

Dun Telve

|100px

| Glenelg

| Highland

|4th century BC to 1st century AD

|Broch

|The best preserved mainland broch, with walls surviving to 10 m, located only 500 metres from Dun Troddan.

Jarlshof

|100px

|Sumburgh

|Shetland

|200 BC

|Various

|A complex of preserved wheelhouses, amongst the remains of a variety of much older and more recent buildings.[http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=PL_162 "Jarlshof Prehistoric & Norse Settlement"] Historic Scotland. Retrieved 2 August 2008.Armit, Ian (1991) The Atlantic Scottish Iron Age: five levels of chronology. Proc Soc Antiq Scot 121 page 193

Yarrows broch

|100px

|Wick

| Highland

|200 BC

|Broch

|Situated on the edge of a loch, underwater stonework may indicate a docking area.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/8982/details/yarrows/ "Yarrows"]. Canmore. Retrieved 11 August 2011."Yarrows Archaeological Trail". (2012) Highland Council.

Dun Vulan

|100px

|Bornais

|Na h-Eileanan Siar

|150 BC

|Broch

|Originally {{convert|10|m|ft}} in height, now reduced to walls of {{convert|1.52|m|ft}}. A Pictish house was later built within the walls.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/9825/details/south+uist+bornish+dun+vulan/ "South Uist, Bornish, Dun Vulan"]. Canmore. Retrieved 12 August 2011.Miers (2008) pp. 145-56

Dun Ardtreck

|100px

|Minginish, Skye

|Highland

|115 BC

|Semi-broch

|Initial occupation appears to have been brief and to have "ended in violence and destruction".[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/11064/details/skye+dun+ardtreck/ "Skye, Dun Ardtreck"]. Canmore. Retrieved 2 August 2008. {{#tag:ref|The excavator, Euan MacKie, identified two successive visits to the site by a Roman fleet during Governor Agricola's campaigns in the AD 80s. The first resulted in presents for the chief but the second in the burning and destruction of the site. The fort guards the entrance of Loch Harport which may be the Roman harbour Portus Trucculensis mentioned by Tacitus.|group=Note}}

Broch of Mousa

| 100px

| Mousa

| Shetland

| 100 BC

| Broch

|Amongst the best-preserved prehistoric buildings in Europe.Fojut, Noel (1981)[http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_111/111_220_228.pdf "Is Mousa a broch?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611045801/http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_111/111_220_228.pdf |date=11 June 2007 }} Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot. 111 pp. 220-228.Armit (2003) p. 15

Ness of Burgi fort

|100px

|Sumburgh

|Shetland

|100 BC

| Blockhouse fort

|Surviving to only 1.5 m in height, the blockhouse was once 22m long, but has suffered from cliff erosion.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/515/details/ness+of+burgi/ "Ness of Burgi"]. Canmore. Retrieved 12 August 2012.[http://www.stonepages.com/ancient_scotland/sites/burgi.htm "Ness of Burgi"]. Stone Pages. Retrieved 12 August 2012.

Midhowe Broch

|100px

|Rousay

|Orkney

|1st century BC or older

| Settlement

|Lies opposite the Broch of Gurness overlooking Eynhallow Sound.Armit (2003) p. 107

Broch of Burrian

|100px

|North Ronaldsay

|Orkney

|1st century BC

| Broch

|May have had three distinct phases of occupation.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/3679/details/north+ronaldsay+broch+of+burrian/ "North Ronaldsay, Broch of Burrian"]. Canmore. Retrieved 6 August 2012.[http://www.biab.ac.uk/contents/43115 "The Broch of Burrian, North Ronaldsay, Orkney"]. BIAB. Retrieved 6 August 2012.

Dun Beag

|100px

|Bracadale, Skye

|Highland

|Late 1st millennium BC

| Broch

|Visited by Boswell and Johnson in the 18th century.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/11062/details/skye+dun+beag+struanmore/ "Skye, Dun Beag, Struanmore"]. Canmore. Retrieved 4 August 2012.7Miers (2008) p. 240

Mine Howe

|100px

|Tankerness

|Orkney

|100BC - 110AD

| Souterrain

|Once thought to be a broch, it was used for metal working and may have had a religious purpose.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/2998/details/tankerness+mine+howe/ "Mine Howe"]. Canmore. Retrieved 2 August 2012.7

Broch of Gurness

|100px

|Evie

|Orkney

|60 AD or older

| Settlement

|Oldest confirmed dates are Roman pottery from 60 AD and radiocarbon dates for the late first century.Armit (2003) p. 108Moffat, Alistair (2005) Before Scotland: The Story of Scotland Before History. London. Thames & Hudson. pp. 173-4.

Dun Mor Vaul

|100px

| Tiree

|Argyll and Bute

|60 AD

|Dun

|The original structure dates to c. 445 BC. A fragment of a Roman glass bowl made in the Rhineland between AD 160 and 250 was discovered in the interior.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/21524/details/tiree+dun+mor+vaul/ "Tiree, Dun Mor, Vaul"]. Canmore. Retrieved 4 August 2012.{{#tag:ref|This broch was excavated in 1962-64 by Euan MacKie. It was the first to be radiocarbon-dated, the first to revealed deposits dating from its construction and the first to reveal evidence for deliberate demolition. New C14 dates may shortly be available. |group=Note}}

Broch of West Burrafirth

|100px

|East of Sandness

|Shetland

|100 AD or older

| Broch

|The stone stands eight or nine courses high for much of the circumference.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/371/details/west+burra+firth/ "West Burra Firth"]. Canmore. Retrieved 29 July 2012.MacKie, E W (1965) "The origin and development of the broch and wheelhouse building cultures of the Scottish Iron Age". Proc Prehist Soc. 31.

Antonine Wall

|100px

|Central Lowlands

|Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, East Dunbartonshire, West Dunbartonshire, and Renfrewshire

|142 AD

|Defensive Fortification

|A defensive Wall built by the Roman Empire to mark the north-west frontier of the empire and to protect Britannia from the Caledonian tribes. The wall was abandoned in 162 AD.

Dun Fiadhairt

|100px

|Duirinish, Skye

|Highland

|200 AD or older

| Broch

|A terracotta model of a bale of wool found at the site may reflect trade between the area and Romanised Britain.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/10925/details/skye+duirinish+dun+fiadhairt/ "Skye, Duirinish, Dun Fiadhairt"]. Canmore. Retrieved 12 August 2012.Armit (2003) p. 117

Edin's Hall Broch

|100px

|Abbey St Bathans

|Scottish Borders

|100-140AD

| Broch

|Broch believed to have been constructed between the two Roman occupations of southern Scotland, on the site of a much earlier fort.http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/58777/details/edin+s+hall/ Canmore. Retrieved 29 August 2012

Dun Fiadhairt

|100px

|Duirinish, Skye

|Highland

|200 AD or older

| Broch

|A clay model of a bale of wool, believed to be Roman, may reflect trade between the two cultures although a Roman fleet is known to have circumnavigated Scotland in the 1st century AD.

Broch of Borwick

|100px

|Yesnaby

|Orkney

|200 AD?

| Broch

|On a cliff promontory, the seaward wall is badly eroded.[http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/brochs/borwick/index.html "The Broch o' Borwick, Sandwick"]. Orkneyjar. Retrieved 6 August 2012[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/1660/details/yesnaby+broch+of+borwick/ "The Broch o' Borwick, Sandwick"]. Canmore. Retrieved 6 August 2012

Tappoch Broch

|100px

|Torwood

|Falkirk

|3rd century AD?

| Broch

|Dating evidence is sparse, with no finds to link the broch to Roman occupation of nearby Antonine Wall resulting in the suggestion the broch either pre- or post- dates Roman occupation..[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/47004/details/torwood+tappoch+broch/ "Torwood, Tappoch Broch"]. Canmore. Retrieved 6 August 2012[http://www.falkirklocalhistorysociety.co.uk/home/index.php?id=144 "Torwood or Tappoch Broch"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221185044/http://www.falkirklocalhistorysociety.co.uk/home/index.php?id=144 |date=2013-12-21 }}. Falkirk Local History Society. Retrieved 6 August 2012

Dun Cuier

|100px

|Barra

|Na h-Eileanan Siar

|4th century AD

| Galleried dun

|A complex and controversial site, with two periods of occupation in the 4th and 7th centuries.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/9710/details/barra+dun+cuier/ "Barra, Dun Cuier"]. Canmore. Retrieved 12 August 2012

=Early Historic period=

class="wikitable sortable"
Building

! Image

! Location

! Council area

! First built

! Use

! Notes

St Columba's Monastery

|100px

| Eileach an Naoimh

|Argyll and Bute

| {{sort|0600|7th century?}}

| Monastic cells

| The monastic site was founded in 542 and the earliest remains are likely pre-Norse. The oldest remains include a double beehive cell and a grave associated with the mother of Columba. These are the oldest extant church buildings in Scotland and possibly Britain.Pallister, Marian (2005) Lost Argyll: Argyll's Lost Heritage. Edinburgh. Birlinn. Pages 120 and 133.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/22361/details/garvellachs+eileach+an+naoimh/ "Garvellachs, Eileach An Naoimh"] Canmore. Retrieved 13 Feb 2011.[http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/B699722.pdf "Jura National Scenic Area"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719003824/http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/B699722.pdf |date=2011-07-19 }} (2010) (pdf) Extract from: The special qualities of the National Scenic Areas. SNH Commissioned Report No.374. Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 13 Feb 2011.[http://data.historic-scotland.gov.uk/pls/htmldb/f?p=2200:15:0::::BUILDING:11587 "St. Columba's Monastery"]. Historic Scotland Retrieved 13 August 2012

Dun Carloway

|100px

| Carloway

|Na h-Eileanan Siar

| {{sort|0650|650 and earlier}}

| Broch

| Radiocarbon date is for a late period of occupation likely to be centuries after the building was completed.Armit (1996) p. 246

Brough of Birsay

|100px

| Birsay

|Orkney

|{{sort|0800|800}}

| Settlement

| Pictish remains date from the 5th century and the Norse period provides building work from 800-1200.Batey, Colleen "Vikings and Late Norse Orkney" in Omand (2003) pp. 53-54[http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/broughofbirsay/index.html "The Brough o' Birsay"]. Orkneyjar. Retrieved 29 July 2012.

St Oran's Chapel

|100px

| Iona

|Argyll and Bute

|{{sort|0990|9th or 10th century}}

| Chapel

|Partly rebuilt and restored.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/21617/details/iona+st+oran+s+chapel+and+reilig+odhrain+burial+ground/ "Iona, St Oran's Chapel And Reilig Odhrain Burial Ground"]. Canmore. Retrieved 29 July 2012. Possibly built by Somerled c. 1164.[http://www.gla.ac.uk/departments/gothic_open/html/w_church.htm "The Western church and Irish influence: Iona, Dunstaffnage and Skipness"]. Department of History of Art, University of Glasgow. Retrieved 4 August 2012.

Brechin Cathedral Round Tower

|100px

| Brechin

|Angus

|{{sort|1012|1012}}

|Round Tower

|The tower probably predates the cathedral itself.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/35055/details/brechin+cathedral/ "Brechin Cathedral"]. Canmore. Retrieved 14 August 2012.{{cite web |url=http://data.historic-scotland.gov.uk/pls/htmldb/f?p=2200:15:0::::BUILDING:22440|title=Round Tower At South West Angle Of Cathedral Church Lane: Listed Building Report |publisher=Historic Scotland}}

Abernethy Round Tower

|100px

| Abernethy

|Perth and Kinross

|{{sort|1100|1100}}

|Round Tower

|The tower is {{convert|22|m|ft}} high.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/27914/details/abernethy+round+tower/ "Abernethy Round Tower"]. Canmore. Retrieved 30 July 2012.

=12th century=

{{Incomplete list|date=July 2012}}

class="wikitable sortable"
Building

! Image

! Location

! Council area

! First built

! Use

! Notes

St Fillan's Church

|thumb

|Aberdour

|Fife

|1123

|Church

|The nave and chancel date from 1123. It was enlarged in the 15th century by the addition of a side aisle, and in the 17th by the small transeptual aisle. The church fell into disrepair in the 18th century and was restored in 1926.{{Cite web |title= |url=https://forthviewchurch.org.uk/stfillans/}}

St Rule's Tower

|100px

| St Andrews

|Fife

| 1123

|Priory

|Constructed by the Culdees prior to the granting of the church to the Augustinian order.[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/standrews/strules/index.html "St Rule's Tower"]. Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 27 July 2012.

Inchcolm Abbey

|100px

| Inchcolm

|Fife

| Founded 1123

|Abbey

|The substantial ruins date "from the 12th century" onwards.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/50895/details/inchcolm+abbey/ "Incholm Abbey"]. Canmore. Retrieved 30 July 2012.

Holyrood Abbey

|100px

| Holyrood Palace

|Edinburgh

| c. 1130

|Abbey

|Founded in 1128 by David I but all that remains above ground of the original structure is the ruined nave. The rest of the building was replaced by the mid 13th century.{{cite web |url=http://data.historic-scotland.gov.uk/pls/htmldb/f?p=2300:35:4237007650032168::NO::P35_SELECTED_MONUMENT:10805 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707162342/http://data.historic-scotland.gov.uk/pls/htmldb/f?p=2300:35:4237007650032168::NO::P35_SELECTED_MONUMENT:10805 |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 July 2012 |title=Holyrood Abbey and Palace gardens |publisher=Historic Scotland |access-date=27 July 2012 }}[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/52381/details/edinburgh+holyrood+palace+holyrood+abbey/ "Edinburgh, Holyrood Abbey"]. Canmore. Retrieved 27 July 2012.

St Margaret's Chapel

|100px

| Edinburgh Castle

|Edinburgh

| 1130

|Chapel

|The oldest building in Edinburgh.[http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/places/hire/weddings/weddings-edinburgh-castle/weddings-edinburgh-castle-st-margarets-chapel.htm "About St. Margaret's Chapel"]. Historic Scotland. Retrieved 26 July 2012.

Cubbie Roo's Castle

|100px

| Wyre

|Orkney

| c. 1145

|Castle

| The ruins include a small square keep still extant to {{convert|8|ft|order=flip}} in height.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/2665/details/wyre+cubbie+roo+s+castle/ "Cubbie Roo's Castle"]. Canmore. Retrieved 31 Dec 2011.

Castle Sween

|100px

| Knapdale

|Argyll and Bute

| c. 1150

|Castle

| The main structure is a mid-12th-century quadrangle with later towers.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/39028/details/castle+sween// "Castle Sween"]. Canmore. Retrieved 29 July 2012.

St Serf's Inch Priory

|100px

| St Serf's Inch

|Perth and Kinross

| Post 1150

|Priory

| The remaining oblong structure dates from 12th century.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/27872/details/loch+leven+st+serf+s+island+st+serf+s+priory+church/ "Loch Leven, St Serf's Island, St Serf's Priory Church"]. Canmore. Retrieved 30 July 2012.

Jedburgh Abbey

|100px

| Jedburgh

|Scottish Borders

| Post 1150

|Abbey

| The choir dates to the second quarter of the 12th century and the church was complete by the middle of the 13th century.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/57020/details/jedburgh+abbey/ "Jedburgh Abbey"]. Canmore. Retrieved 31 July 2012.

St. Magnus Cathedral

|100px

|Kirkwall

|Orkney

| Commenced 1167

|Cathedral

| The building was raised in honour of Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney by Earl Rögnvald Kali.Crawford, Barbara E. "Orkney in the Middle Ages" in Omand (2003) pp. 69-70

Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall

|100px

|Kirkwall

|Orkney

| c. 1167

|Residence

|Built for William the Old, Bishop of Orkney, Haakon IV of Norway died here in 1263.[http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/bishop.htm "The Bishop's Palace, Kirkwall"]. Orkneyjar. Retrieved 29 July 2012.

Kilwinning Abbey

|100px

|Kilwinning

|North Ayrshire

| 1190

|Abbey

|An arch has a Norman style capital bearing two carved figures.McAleer, J. Philip (1995). Towards an architectural history of Kilwinning Abbey. Proc Soc Antiq Scot. 125 pp. 841-853.

St Magnus Church

|100px

| Egilsay

|Orkney

| Late 12th century

|Church

|A church existed here in 1116, but the current building, with its distinctive round tower, may date from later that century.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/2697/details/egilsay+st+magnus+s+church/ "Egilsay, St Magnus's Church"]. Canmore. Retrieved 29 July 2012.

Kildalton Chapel

|100px

|Islay

|Argyll and Bute

|Late 12th century

|Church

|The churchyard has a collection of grave slabs and contains the 8th-century Kildalton Cross.[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/islay/kildalton/index.html "Kildalton Cross"]. Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 15 August 2012.

St Blane's Church, Kingarth

|100px

| Kingarth

|Argyll and Bute

|12th century

|Church

|A "12th-century Romanesque building consisting of a nave and chancel", the enclosing wall and parts of the church may be pre-Norse.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/40292/details/bute+st+blane+s+church/ "Bute, St Blane's Church"]. Canmore. Retrieved 4 August 2012.

13th century

=Castles=

class="wikitable sortable"
Building

! Image

! Location

! Council Area

! First Built

! Use

! Notes

Aberdour Castle

|100px

| Aberdour

|Fife

|{{sort|1200| 1200}}

|Castle

| Base of a late-12th- or early-13th-century hall house incorporated into later buildings.Tabraham, Chris, Scotland's Castles (BT Batsford/Historic Scotland, 1997, {{ISBN|0-7134-7965-5}}), p. 33

Dirleton Castle

|100px

| Dirleton

|East Lothian

| {{sort|1240|1240}}

|Castle

|The de Vaux towers are the oldest extant structures.Coventry (2008) p. 582[http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=PL_089 "Dirleton Castle"]. Historic Scotland. Retrieved 29 July 2012.

Kildrummy Castle

|100px

| Kildrummy

|Aberdeenshire

| {{sort|1250|c. 1250}}

|Castle

|Built mid 13th century, possibly by Gilbert de Moravia and fell under siege in 1306 during the Wars of Independence.Coventry (2008) p. 449[http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=PL_169 "Kildrummy Castle"]. Historic Scotland. Retrieved 29 July 2012.

Dunstaffnage Castle

|100px

| Dunbeg, near Oban

|Argyll and Bute

| {{sort|1274|pre 1275}}

|Castle

|Built by Clan MacDougall on an older site.Coventry (2008) p. 365[http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=PL_111 "Dunstaffnage Castle and Chapel"]. Historic Scotland. Retrieved 29 July 2012.

Duart Castle

|100px

| Craignure, Mull

|Argyll and Bute

| {{sort|1289|Late 13th century}}

|Castle

|Part of a chain of castles that line the Sound of Mull.Coventry (2008) p. 386[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/22662/details/mull+duart+castle/ "Duart Castle"]. Canmore. Retrieved 29 July 2012.

Lauriston Castle

|100px

| St Cyrus

|Aberdeenshire

| {{sort|1290|Late 13th century}}

|Castle

|The charter dates from c. 1243, and some of the 13th-century structure is incorporated in later building works. Captured by Edward III of England in 1336.Coventry (2008) p. 562

Goblin Ha'

|100px

| Gifford

|East Lothian

| {{sort|1291|13th century}}

|Undercroft

|Part of Yester Castle built by Sir Hugo de Gifford, reputedly a "wizard".Coventry (2008) p. 220[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/56062/details/yester+castle+and+goblin+ha "Yester Castle and Goblin Ha'"]. Canmore. Retrieved 29 July 2012.

=Religious buildings=

{{Incomplete list|date=July 2012}}

class="wikitable sortable"
Building

! Image

! Location

! Council Area

! First Built

! Use

! Notes

Iona Nunnery

|100px

| Iona

|Argyll and Bute

| {{sort|1207|Founded 1207}}

|Nunnery

|"The remains, substantial and, at least in part, original were repaired in 1923".[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/21621/details/iona+iona+nunnery/ "Iona, Iona Nunnery"]. Canmore. Retrieved 31 July 2012.

Iona Abbey

|100px

| Iona

|Argyll and Bute

| {{sort|1220|1200-1220}}

|Monastery

|The north transept "is the only part of this early church to survive reasonably intact".McDonald (2007) p. 245

Pluscarden Abbey

|100px

| Elgin

|Moray

| {{sort|1230|Founded 1230}}

|Monastery

|Originally Valliscaulian, now a Benedictine House.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/16094/details/pluscarden+abbey/ "Pluscarden Abbey"]. Canmore. Retrieved 30 July 2012.

Ardchattan Priory

|100px

| Ardchattan

|Argyll and Bute

| {{sort|1230|Founded 1230}}

|Monastery

|Also Valliscaulian, and dedicated to St May and St John the Baptist. Now ruined.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/23259/details/ardchattan+priory/ "Ardchattan Priory"]. Canmore. Retrieved 30 July 2012.

Fortrose Cathedral

|100px

| Fortrose

|Highland

|{{sort|1235|1235}}

|Undercroft

|The undercroft of the chapter house is only structure remaining from this date.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/14324/details/fortrose+cathedral+square+fortrose+cathedral/ "Fortrose Cathedral"]. Canmore. Retrieved 20 August 2012.

Inchmahome Priory

|100px

| Inchmahome

|Stirling

|{{sort|1238|Founded 1238}}

|Priory

|"Much of the 13th-century building remains."[http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyresults/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=PL_157/ "Inchmahome Priory"]. Historic Scotland. Retrieved 31 July 2012.

Nave Island Chapel

|100px

|Islay

|Argyll and Bute

|{{sort|1245|Pre 1250}}

|Church

|The site is within an enclosure that is likely to be several centuries older, The chimney is an 18th-century addition made by kelp harvesters.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/37472/details/islay+nave+island/ "Islay, Nave Island"]. Canmore. Retrieved 15 August 2012.

Kelso Abbey

|100px

| Kelso

|Scottish Borders

| {{sort|1248|Completed 1248}}

|Abbey

|Suffered significant damage during "The Rough Wooing".[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/58418/details/kelso+bridge+street+abbey/ "Kelso, Bridge Street, Abbey"]. Canmore. Retrieved 30 July 2012.

Arbroath Abbey

|100px

| Arbroath

|Angus

| {{sort|1250|Completed mid-13th century}}

|Abbey

|The tower dates from the 13th century.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/222126/details/arbroath+abbey+regality+tower/ "Arbroath Abbey, Regality Tower"]. Canmore. Retrieved 30 July 2012.

Crossraguel Abbey

|100px

| Maybole

|South Ayrshire

| {{sort|1265|Completed c. 1265}}

|Abbey

|[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/40830/details/crossraguel+abbey/ "Crossraguel Abbey"]. Canmore. Retrieved 30 July 2012.

Beauly Priory

|100px

| Beauly

|Highland

| {{sort|1272|Completed 1272}}

|Monastery

|Described by the monks as Prioratus de Bello Loco in 1230.[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/beauly/beaulypriory/index.html "Beauly Priory"]. Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 30 July 2012.

Sweetheart Abbey

|100px

| New Abbey

|Dumfries and Galloway

| {{sort|1273|Founded 1273}}

|Abbey

|A Cistercian monastery founded in 1275 by Dervorguilla of Galloway.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/65464/details/new+abbey+sweetheart+abbey/ "Sweetheart Abbey"]. Canmore. Retrieved 30 July 2012.

Dunstaffnage Chapel

|100px

| Oban

|Argyll and Bute

| {{sort|1274|pre 1275}}

|Chapel

|Adjacent to Dunstaffnage Castle.

Balmerino Abbey

|100px

| Balmerino

|Fife

| {{sort|1286|Completed c. 1286}}

|Abbey

|Founded in 1231, badly damaged in the 16th century.[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/balmerino/abbey/index.html "Balmerino Abbey"]. Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 30 July 2012.

Culross Abbey

|100px

| Culross

|Fife

| {{sort|1290|Late 13th century}}

|Abbey

|Founded before 1217, parts of the nave are early-13th-century, but most of the original structures are c. 1300.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/48040/details/culross+culross+abbey/ "Culross Abbey"]. Canmore. Retrieved 30 July 2012.

By council area

thumb

The following are amongst the oldest buildings in each council area of Scotland.

class="wikitable sortable"
Building

! Image

! Location

! Council area

! Year Built

! Use

! Notes

St Machar's Cathedral

|100px

|Old Aberdeen

|Aberdeen City

| {{sort|1440|1440}}

|Church

|The nave and its two western towers were built between 1422 and 1440.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/20216/details/aberdeen+the+chanonry+st+machar+s+cathedral+and+churchyard/ "Aberdeen, The Chanonry, St Machar's Cathedral and Churchyard"]. Canmore. Retrieved 13 August 2012.{{#tag:ref|Brig o' Balgownie was originally constructed in the 14th century by Richard Cementarius but was "largely rebuilt" in the early 17th century.{{cite web |url=http://hsewsf.sedsh.gov.uk/hslive/hsstart?P_HBNUM=20067|title=Brig O' Balgownie Over River Don, Listed Building Report|publisher=Historic Scotland |access-date= 13 August 2012}} Provost Skene's House in Broad Street dates from 1545 and is probably the oldest house in the city.[http://www.aagm.co.uk/Venues/ProvostSkenesHouse/psh-overview.aspx "Provost Skene's House"]. Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums. Aberdeen City Council. Retrieved 13 August 2012.|group="Note"}}

Kildrummy Castle

|100px

| Kildrummy

|Aberdeenshire

| {{sort|1250|c. 1250}}

|Castle

|Built mid 13th century, possibly by Gilbert de Moravia and fell under siege in 1306 during the Wars of Independence.

Brechin Cathedral Round Tower

|100px

| Brechin

|Angus

|{{sort|1012|1012}}

|Round Tower

|The tower probably predates the cathedral itself.

Glebe cairn

|100px

| Kilmartin Glen

| Argyll and Bute

|{{sort

04|1700 BC}}

|Tomb

|An early Bronze Age structure with two stone cists.

Clackmannan Tower

|100px

|Clackmannan

|Clackmannanshire

|{{sort|1390|Late 14th century}}

|Tower house

|L-plan tower house extended in the 15th century.{{cite web |url=http://data.historic-scotland.gov.uk/pls/htmldb/f?p=2200:15:0::::BUILDING:1946 |title=Clackmannan Tower, Listed Building Report |access-date=2010-05-10 |publisher=Historic Scotland}}{{#tag:ref|Tullibody Old Bridge, which dates from the early 16th century{{cite web |title=Tullibody Old Bridge|url=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TullibodyOldBridgeInformationBoardJune2011.jpg|publisher=Clackmannanshire Council|access-date=13 August 2012}}[http://data.historic-scotland.gov.uk/pls/htmldb/f?p=2200:15:0::::BUILDING:1977 "Tullibody Old Bridge over River Devon, Bridgend"]. (9 June 1960) Historic Scotland. Retrieved 4 August 2012. has been described as "the oldest structure in Clackmannanshire" by Clackmannanshire Council."Clackmannanshire View". (Winter 2010) Issue 5. Clackmannanshire Council.|group="Note"}}

Sweetheart Abbey

|100px

| New Abbey

|Dumfries and Galloway

| {{sort|1273|Founded 1273}}

|Abbey

|A Cistercian monastery founded in 1275 by Dervorguilla of Galloway.

St Mary's Tower

|100px

|Nethergate

|Dundee City

| {{sort|1495|1495}}

|Church

|Also known as "The Old Steeple"{{Cite web | ref = {{harvid|Nethergate, City Churches, St Clement's, or Steeple Church, Category A Listing}} | title = Nethergate, City Churches, St Clement's, or Steeple Church, Category A Listing | url = http://hsewsf.sedsh.gov.uk/hslive/hsstart?P_HBNUM=25374 | date = 12 July 1963 | access-date =27 March 2012 | work = Historic Scotland }} and described as "the oldest surviving building in Dundee".[http://www.dundeestmarys.co.uk/history.html "Dundee Parish Church (St. Mary's)"]. Dundee Parish Church. Retrieved 13 August 2012.

Mauchline Castle

|100px

|Mauchline

|East Ayrshire

|{{sort|1450|1450}}

|Former grange

|Built by Andrew Hunter, abbot of Melrose Abbey.{{cite web |url=http://hsewsf.sedsh.gov.uk/hslive/hsstart?P_HBNUM=14471|title=Mauchline Castle (Abbot Hunter's Tower): Listed Building Report|publisher=Historic Scotland |access-date=2010-06-05}}[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/42697/details/mauchline+castle+street+mauchline+castle/ "Mauchline Castle"]. Canmore. Retrieved 14 August 2012.

Bardowie Castle

|100px

|Bardowie, between Bearsden, Milngavie, and Torrance

|East Dunbartonshire

| {{sort|1556|1566}}

|Castle

|16th-century tower with later additions.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/44505/details/bardowie+castle/ "Bardowie Castle"]. Canmore. Retrieved 13 August 2012.

Dirleton Castle

|100px

| Dirleton

|East Lothian

| {{sort|1240|1240}}

|Castle

|The de Vaux towers are the oldest extant structures.

Mearns Castle

|100px

| Newton Mearns

|East Renfrewshire

|{{sort|1449|Post 1449}}

|Tower house

|Restored and now used by a local church.{{cite web |url=http://data.historic-scotland.gov.uk/pls/htmldb/f?p=2200:15:0::::BUILDING:18536 |title=Church Of Maxwell, Mearns Castle, Broom Road, By Newton Mearns, Listed Building Report |publisher=Historic Scotland |access-date=20 May 2010}}

St Margaret's Chapel

|100px

| Edinburgh Castle

|City of Edinburgh

| {{sort|1130|1130}}

|Chapel

|

Tappoch Broch

|100px

|Torwood

|Falkirk

|{{sort|0300|3rd century}}

| Broch

|Likely post dates Roman occupation of nearby Antonine Wall.

St Rule's Tower

|100px

| St Andrews

|Fife

| {{sort|1123|1123}}

|Priory

|Constructed by the Culdees prior to the granting of the church to the Augustinian order.

Glasgow Cathedral

|100px

|Glasgow

|Glasgow

|{{sort|1150|mid-12th century}}

|Cathedral

|{{Cite web|url=https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/glasgow-cathedral/|title = Glasgow Cathedral}}

Grey Cairns of Camster

|100px

| Upper Camster

|Highland

|{{sort

02|3000 BC or older}}

|Tomb

|A group of three cairns.

Newark Castle

|100px

|Port Glasgow

|Inverclyde

|{{sort|1478|1478}}

|Castle

|The original castle had a tower house within a barmkin entered through a large gatehouse.[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/portglasgow/newarkcastle/ "Newark Castle"]. Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 14 August 2012.

Crichton Castle

|100px

|Crichton

|Midlothian

|{{sort|1390|Late 14th century}}

|Tower house

|The tower is the oldest section, with later additions.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/53601/details/crichton+castle/ "Chrichton Castle"]. Canmore. Retrieved 14 August 2012.[http://data.historic-scotland.gov.uk/pls/htmldb/f?p=2200:15:0::::BUILDING:754 "Chrichton Castle"]. Listed Building Report. Historic Scotland. Retrieved 14 August 2012.

Pluscarden Abbey

|100px

| Elgin

|Moray

| {{sort|1230|Founded 1230}}

|Monastery

|Originally Valliscaulian, now a Benedictine House.

Barpa Langass

| 100px

| North Uist

| Na h-Eileanan Siar

|{{sort

03|3000 BC}}

|Tomb

|The best preserved chambered cairn in the Hebrides.

Kilwinning Abbey

|100px

|Kilwinning

|North Ayrshire

| {{sort|1190|1190}}

|Abbey

|An arch has a Norman style capital bearing two carved figures.

Dalzell House

|100px

|Motherwell

|North Lanarkshire

|{{sort|1510|Early 16th century}}

|Tower house

|Substantial later additions.{{cite web |url=http://hsewsf.sedsh.gov.uk/hslive/hsstart?P_HBNUM=38238 |title=Dalzell House, Listed Building Report |publisher=Historic Scotland |access-date=2010-05-13}}

Knap of Howar

| 100px

| Papa Westray

| Orkney

| {{sort

01| 3700 BC}}

| House

| Oldest preserved stone house in north west Europe.

Abernethy Round Tower

|100px

| Abernethy

|Perth and Kinross

|{{sort|1090|Late 11th century}}

|Tower

|The tower is {{convert|22|m|ft}} high.

Paisley Abbey

|100px

|Paisley

| Renfrewshire

| {{sort|1455|Mid 15th century}}

|Abbey

|The main structure is a restoration of an earlier building destroyed in 1307, although a late-12th-century and a 13th-century doorway remain.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/43139/details/paisley+abbey/ "Pailsey Abbey"]. Canmore. Retrieved 13 August 2012.

Jedburgh Abbey

|100px

| Jedburgh

|Scottish Borders

|{{sort|1151| Post 1150}}

|Abbey

| The choir dates to the second quarter of the 12th century and the church was complete by the middle of the 13th century.

Old Scatness

|100px

|Sumburgh

|Shetland

|{{sort

05|400-200 BC}}

| Broch and wheelhouse

|Like Jarlshof the site was occupied by Iron Age peoples, Picts, and Vikings.

Crossraguel Abbey

|100px

| Maybole

|South Ayrshire

| {{sort|1265|c. 1265}}

|Abbey

|

Bothwell Parish Church

|100px

|Bothwell

|South Lanarkshire

|{{sort|1398|Founded 1398}}

|Church

|Formerly St Brides Collegiate Church. The oldest visible structure is the choir, which dates from the 14th century.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/45691/details/bothwell+main+street+st+bride+s+collegiate+church/ "Bothwell, Main Street, St Bride's Collegiate Church"]. Canmore. Retrieved 13 August 2012.

Inchmahome Priory

|100px

| Inchmahome

|Stirling

|{{sort|1238|Founded 1238}}

|Priory

|"Much of the 13th-century building remains."

Glencairn House

|100px

|Dumbarton

|West Dunbartonshire

| {{sort|1623|1623}}

|Tenement

|Built for the Earl of Glencairn, now owned by the Council and described as "oldest building in West Dunbartonshire".[http://www.lennoxherald.co.uk/lifestyle/latest-lifestyle/2009/01/30/provost-glencairn-house-can-be-a-tourist-attraction-114557-22796780/ "Provost: 'Glencairn House can be a tourist attraction'"]. (30 Jan 2009) Lennox Herald. Retrieved 13 August 2012.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/42350/details/dumbarton+81+high+street+glencairn+tenement/ "Dumbarton, 81 High Street, Glencairn Tenement"]. Canmore. Retrieved 13 August 2012.

Torphichen Preceptory

|100px

|Torphichen

| West Lothian

|{{sort|1250| 13th century}}

|Church

|The only house of the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem in Scotland.[http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/torphichen/preceptory/ "Torphicen Preceptory"]. Undiscovered Scotland. Retrieved 13 August 2012.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/47978/details/torphichen+bowyett+torphichen+preceptory+and+torphichen+parish+church/ "Torphicen, Bowyett, Torphicen Preceptory and Torphicen Parish Church"]. Canmore. Retrieved 13 August 2012.{{#tag:ref|According to RCAHMS, Abercorn church dates "from the later 11th century and has been much altered" and "the only feature certainly of that date is the blocked S door".[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/49123/details/abercorn+church+and+anglian+monastery/ "Abercorn Church and Anglian Monastery"]. Canmore. Retrieved 30 July 2012.|group="Note"}}

Other structures

=Undated buildings=

The following are very old buildings that meet the qualifying criteria but for which no reliable date of construction has emerged.

class="wikitable sortable"
Building

! Image

! Location

! Council Area

! First Built

! Use

! Notes

Calf of Eday cairns

|File:Sheep and lambs at Calfsound, Eday - geograph.org.uk - 226922.jpg

| Calf of Eday

| Orkney

|Neolithic and built in two phases.

|Tomb

|There are two preserved chambered tombs close together on this Orkney islet and a third in a ruinous state.

Huntersquoy cairn

|100px

| Eday

| Orkney

|Neolithic

|Tomb

|A Bookan type cairn with an upper and lower storey.{{Haswell-Smith|388}}

Broch of Culswick

|100px

| Sandsting

|Shetland

|Iron Age

|Broch

|Until the 18th century this was Shetland's second most complete broch, after Mousa.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/337/details/broch+of+culswick/ "Broch of Culswick"]. Canmore. Retrieved 12 August 2012.Lamb, R.G. (1975) "The Burri Stacks of Culswick, Shetland, and other paired stack-settlements". PSAS.

Burra Ness Broch

|100px

| Yell

|Shetland

|Iron Age

|Broch

|The wall still stands 14' high in places.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/1373/details/yell+burra+ness/ "Yell, Burra Ness"].

Canmore. Retrieved 11 August 2012.

Burroughston Broch

|100px

| Shapinsay

| Orkney

| Iron Age

|Settlement

|Likely to "have been seen by seafaring Romans about two millennia ago."C. Michael Hogan (2007) [http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=7891 "Burroughston Broch"]. The Megalithic Portal. Retrieved 28 July 2012.

Carn Liath

|100px

|Golspie

| Highland

|Iron Age

|Broch

|[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/6833/details/carn+liath/ "Carn Liath"]. Canmore. Retrieved 29 July 2012.

Clachtoll broch

|100px

|Stoer

| Highland

|Iron Age

|Broch

|[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/4499/details/clachtoll/ "Clachtoll"]. Canmore. Retrieved 12 August 2012.

Dun Dornaigil

|100px

| South of Ben Hope

| Highland

| Iron Age

|Broch

|[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/event/586669/ "Dun Dornaigil"]. Canmore. Retrieved 28 July 2012.

Dun Hallin

|100px

|Waternish, Skye

|Highland

| Iron Age

|Broch

|[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/10905/details/skye+dun+hallin/ "Skye, Hallin"]. Canmore. Retrieved 12 August 2012.

Dun Grugaig

|100px

|Glenelg

|Highland

| Iron Age

|Semi-broch

|[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/11772/details/dun+grugaig+glenelg/ "Dune Grugaig, Glenelg"]. Canmore. Retrieved 12 August 2012.Miers (2008) p. 173

Kintradwell broch

|100px

| Brora

| Highland

| Iron Age

|Broch

|[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/6964/details/kintradwell/ "Kintradwell"]. Canmore. Retrieved 12 August 2012.

Sallachy broch

|100px

| Lairg

| Highland

| Iron Age

|Broch

|[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/5069/details/sallachadh/ "Sallachadh"]. Canmore. Retrieved 12 August 2012.

Stairhaven

|100px

| Luce Bay

| Dumfries and Galloway

| Probable Iron Age

|Possible broch

|Also known as Crow's Neith and Broken Castle.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/62292/details/stair+haven/ "Stair Haven"]. Canmore. Retrieved 12 August 2012.

Tirefour Castle

|100px

| Lismore

| Argyll and Bute

| Iron Age

| Broch

|The walls have an average thickness of {{convert|4.5|m|ft}} enclosing a court about {{convert|12.2|m|ft}} in diameter. The wall still stands {{convert|3|m|ft}} high.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/23082/details/lismore+tirefour+castle/ "Lismore, Tirefour Castle"]. Canmore. Retrieved 12 August 2012.

Burghead Well

|100px

|Burghead

| Moray

|Dark Age?

|Baptistery?

|This underground structure is unique in a Scottish context and is probably of Dark Age origin, although it may be older.Burghead Well (1968) Ancient Monuments of Scotland. Crown copyright leaflet.

Restenneth Priory

|100px

| Forfar

|Angus

| {{sort|1299|13th century?}}

|Monastery

|Probably built on a much earlier site and the date of the extant structures is not clear.[http://www.angus.gov.uk/history/features/buildings/2006-02-restenneth.htm "Restenneth Priory"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928071613/http://www.angus.gov.uk/history/features/buildings/2006-02-restenneth.htm |date=2012-09-28 }}. Angus Council. Retrieved 15 December 2012.[http://www.rcahms.gov.uk/pls/portal/newcanmore.newcandig_details_gis?inumlink=33745 "Restenneth Priory"]. Canmore. Retrieved 15 December 2012.

=Other prehistoric constructions=

The following are very old human constructions that do not fit the above criteria for a building.

class="wikitable sortable"
Building

! Image

! Location

! Council area

! First built

! Use

! Notes

Funzie Girt

|100px

|Fetlar

| Shetland

|Possibly Neolithic

|Wall

|The wall ran for over {{convert|4|km|mi}} and once divided the island in two. "Its date and precise purpose are unknown, but a considerable degree of antiquity is suggested."[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/1465/details/fetlar+funziegirt/ "Fetlar, Funziegirt"]. Canmore. Retrieved 15 May 2011.

Dwarfie Stane

|100px

|Hoy

| Orkney

|3rd millennium BC

|Tomb

|A megalithic chambered tomb carved out of a titanic block of Devonian Old Red Sandstone.[http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/tombs/dwarfiestane/ "The Dwarfie Stane, Hoy"] Orkneyjar. Retrieved 27 May 2010.Wickham-Jones (2007) p. 54

See also

Notes

{{Reflist|group="Note"}}

Footnotes

{{Reflist|2}}

References

  • Armit, Ian (1996) The archaeology of Skye and the Western Isles. Edinburgh University Press/Historic Scotland.
  • Armit, I. (2003) Towers in the North: The Brochs of Scotland. Stroud. Tempus. {{ISBN|0-7524-1932-3}}
  • Coventry, Martin (2008) Castles of the Clans. Musselburgh. Goblinshead. {{ISBN|9781899874361}}
  • McDonald, R. Andrew (2007) The Kingdom of the Isles: Scotland's Western Seaboard c. 1100 – c. 1336. East Linton. Tuckwell Press. {{ISBN|1-898410-85-2}}
  • Miers, Mary (2008) The Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide. Rutland Press. {{ISBN|9781873190296}}
  • Omand, Donald (ed.) (2003) The Orkney Book. Edinburgh. Birlinn. {{ISBN|1-84158-254-9}}
  • Wickham-Jones, Caroline (2007) Orkney: A Historical Guide. Edinburgh. Birlinn. {{ISBN|1841585963}}

{{Scottish architecture}}

Category:Architectural history

Category:Historic preservation

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