Archaeology Notes

Event ID 653566

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/653566

ND12NW 6 1160 2852.

(ND 1160 2852) Burg Ruadh (NR) (Remains of)

OS 6" map, Caithness, 1st ed., (1871)

Broch, 'Burg Ruadh': About half a mile N of the Berrie- dale Water and two miles NW of Borgue are the ruins of Burg Ruadh: The broch wall on the exterior is in great measure exposed, and on the N where best preserved, it is visible for a height of 7ft and is concealed at its base by some 4ft of ruin. The entrance is not evident and the wall thickness is unobtainable without excavation. At various points, openings into the galleries or chambers are visible. The greatest elevation is some 14ft. There are indications of outbuildings towards the S.

RCAHMS 1911, visited 1910.

Generally as described above. The overall diameter of the broch is 16.0m, but it is impossible to determine the wall thickness. A good stretch of the outer face is exposed on the N side, where it stands to a height of some 2.0m; part of a stairway has been exposed on the same side. The broch appears to have been enclosed by a stone wall and there are traces of (? later) buildings between this wall and the broch.

Visited by OS (W D J) 23 June 1960.

(ND 1160 2852) Broch (NR)

OS 6" map, (1965)

This broch is as described by the previous authorities; the mural gallery at first floor level is exposed intermittently around the whole periphery. The outer defence is clearly visible in the N arc, where the facings of boulders are apparent indicating a thickness of approximately 1.7m, and around the S side, where it survives as a stony scarp. There is such a quantity of stone debris, largely turf-covered, S of the broch, that there must have been outbuildings in this sector, but no structural remains can be identified.

(The broch is known locally as "Borgroy" {phonetically}, but no local inhabitant was found who knew the correct spelling. The OS in 1871 and the RCAHMS give the name 'Burg Ruadh'. The OS 6" map (1965) applies the name 'Borgue Roy' to the vicinity, which is erroneous.)

Visited by OS (N K B) 15 November 1982.

Scheduled as Burg Ruaidh or Borgue Roy, broch,

Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 28 February 2000.