Archaeology Notes

Event ID 663788

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/663788

NH79NE 6 75 99

'Ruins of Druid Temple'.

Information from 'Survey of Skelbo' 1788, No. 13

About 1833 a very fine broch, Thor's Tower stood on the farm of Torboll, or Thor's Field.

L Tait 1870.

Mr Vass (Duncan Vass, Torboll) indicated the point at NH 7537 9920 where in dry summers he has observed a circular green mark in pasture or a dark mark in crops. He estimates the diameter of the circle at 10 to 12 yards. (see NH79NE 40)

There were no surface indications of antiquity in this position at the time of investigation, nor could any crop marks be seen on the available air photographs. The situation, however, is a good one for a broch, being on the summit of a low ridge overlooking a wide expance of low-lying cultivated land.

An alternative site is a small area of uncultivated land at NH 7530 9930. This is much disturbed and very strong, but has more the appearance of an old quarry that has been used for dumping stones from field clearance. All the stones appear to be small and undressed. Mr Vass has no knowledge of the names "Thor's Tower" or "Thor's Field".

Visited by OS (R D L), 11 April 1964.

There is no trace and no local knowledge of a broch.

Visited by OS (N K B), 25 November 1969.