Scanned image of a drawing of a broch in plan, entitled: 'Hillhead Broch'.

Description Scanned image of a drawing of a broch in plan, entitled: 'Hillhead Broch'.

Date 1901

Collection Papers of John Nicolson, antiquarian, Keiss, Caithness, Scotland

Catalogue Number SC 878048

Category On-line Digital Images

Scope and Content Plan of Hillhead broch, Caithness, Highland Hillhead broch, or 'The Pap', is located just to the north of Wick in north-east Caithness. The site was excavated by Sir Francis Tress Barry (1825-1907) at the beginning of the 20th century, sometime between 1901 and 1902. It was one of a number of broch sites excavated by Barry between 1890 and 1904. This drawing by John Nicolson (1843-1934) shows a plan of the broch with the entrance to the left. Nicolson has labelled a number of the features with letters of the alphabet. However, the key is lost: A is the stair entrance, B and C mark the broch entrance, D refers to a stone setting or internal feature, E is a small chamber, F is the guard cell in the broch wall and G is a secondary external guard cell. Nicolson's drawings are recognised or their accuracy. The reason that half of the broch is drawn is explained by Barry who notes that the interior of the broch was in such a ruinous state that 'I have not dared to remove it [debris] from more than half of the circle, fearing that otherwise the whole structure might collapse'. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/878048

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap