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Field Visit
Date 2 September 1930
Event ID 1125236
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1125236
Broch, Southvoe. Not far from the edge of the cliffs at Bu Taing, near Southvoe, are the grass-covered remains of a broch. Only very fragmentary traces of the main building can now be identified, but these indicate that it was entered from the S.W. through a passage, three lintel stones of which still remain in position. The internal diameter is about 27 ft, and the wall is about 15 ft thick at the entrance. On the N. segment of the inner face, two stones, set upright at a distance of 2 ft. 8 ins. apart, may possibly indicate an opening in the wall at some height above the floor. No other features of interest are exposed, but excavation would probably reveal at least 6 or 7 ft. of structure still standing on the seaward side, where the mound is highest. To the western or landward side the remains are low and merge into the sloping hillside, while beyond them are numerous traces of ‘out-buildings’. The remains of a wall are visible all along the edge of the cliff. It is worth adding that almost immediately in front, a long, high ridge of rock runs parallel to the shore, leaving a narrow lane of water, which would form a good natural harbour for small craft and would be easily accessible from the broch. Such an association is somewhat unusual, although it occurs elsewhere, e.g. at Clevigarth (HU41SW 3).
RCAHMS 1946, visited 2 September 1930.
OS 6" map, Shetland, 2nd ed., (1903).
