Achcoillenaborgie
Broch (Iron Age)(Possible)
Site Name Achcoillenaborgie
Classification Broch (Iron Age)(Possible)
Canmore ID 6221
Site Number NC75NW 2
NGR NC 7139 5942
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/6221
- Council Highland
- Parish Farr
- Former Region Highland
- Former District Sutherland
- Former County Sutherland
NC75NW 2 7139 5942.
(NC 7139 5942) Broch (NR)
OS 6"map, (1964)
The denuded remains of a broch, 28 feet in diameter within a wall 14 feet thick, with an entrance in the north. The walls of a chamber lie 8 feet west of the passage and the remains of buildings lie outside.
RCAHMS 1911, visited 1909.
The remains of a broch, set on a low knoll and generally as described by RCAHMS except that the north segment is now severely denuded and the entrance passage is no longer visible although the chamber survives. In the north arc of the interior are traces of a dry-stone chamber, partly built into the broch wall. To the SW of the broch lies a circular rubble-walled enclosure, 7.2m in diameter with no visible entrance, whose period is uncertain.
Remains of a ditch, partly accompanied by an outer bank, curve round the broch on the north and west and are probably a contemporary defence, protecting the easier approach.
Visited by OS (J L D) 27 April 1960.
The broch is as described by previous OS investigator.
Surveyed at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (I S S) 9 July 1971.
The broch and its outer defence are generally as described by previous OS investigators, the remains are obscured by tumble, and mutilated by stone robbing and the insertion of later structures.
Visited by OS (J B) 10 July 1977.
NC 606 364 and NC 714 593 An initial assessment in December 2000 of the potential damage to known archaeological sites, including a number of Scheduled Ancient Monuments, from work on replacing electricity poles, was followed by a watching brief at Grummore (NC 606 364; NMRS NC63NW 1) and Ach Coillenaborgie (NC 714 593; NMRS NC75NW 35 and NC75NW 2 ). This revealed that no damage had been done to the archaeological features in the initial placing of the poles.
Report to be lodged with Highland SMR.
Sponsor: Scottish & Southern Energy plc.
C Dagg 2001
Publication Account (2007)
NC75 1 ACHCOILLENABORGIE
NC/7139 5942
This probable broch in Farr, Sutherland, stands at about 15m OD on a slight knoll between the base of a hill and the river Naver, and about half a mile south of the road bridge over the Naver near Bettyhill (visited in 1963). The structure is now low and badly ruined, no doubt because of stone robbing by the builders of nearby settlements.
In 1910 the entrance was seen on the north and the walls of a possible mural chamber were exposed west of the passage and 2.44m (8ft) from it [2]. These features were no longer visible in 1960 but traces of a drystone chamber were then noted on the northern arc, partly built into the wall [1]. The side of a possible entry in to the broch wall from the interior was noted on the south sidein 1985 [3].
There are signs of outbuildings around the site [2] but Swanson doubts if these are contemporary with the broch [3]. There are also signs of an outer ditch with an outer rampart on the north-east [3, plan].
Dimensions: the interior diameter is about 8.54m (28ft) and the wall is about 4.27m (14ft) thick; the wall proportion would thus be 50%.
Sources: 1. NMRS site no. NC 75 NW 2: 2. RCAHMS 1911a, 61, no. 183: 3. Swanson (ms) 1985, 713-15 and plan.
E W MacKie 2007
