Croick Broch, Scottish Highlands

Tonight, I am reporting on a broch the remains of which is located close to Croick Church on which I have reported previously.Location is about 48 miles north of Inverness

In essence brochs: 

  • Comprise tall, round towers which are not dissimilar to modern-day lighthouses.
  • Feature walls which were double-skinned and tapered. No mortar was used. The walls were bonded together at intervals by rows of flat slabs.
  • Contain stairs were constructed between the double walls which provided access to galleries and small rooms on separate stories.
  • Are invariably located on prominent positions on the landscape. Likely high status homes for a local chieftain type person and his extended family and animals.
  • Feature ground level access via a small, narrow entrance which could be easily defended.
  • Number about 500 which are concentrated in the north, particularly the Northern Isles (Orkney and Shetland), Western Isles and Caithness on the mainland.
  • Date to the Iron Age, circa 200 BC to 200 AD after which they went out of use and the masonry was robbed for other buildings.
  • Were built by Brittonic speaking peoples (not Scots) from whom the Pictish culture later developed.

    • For illustration purposes an image of the only remaining complete broch (Shetland) can be found below.

    Mousa Broch 

     

     Video clip of ruins of Croick Broch 

     
     
    It is manifestly evident that the Croick Broch has been heavily robbed for its masonry over the past 1500 years or so. However, it is still possible to discerne curvature of the foundations and other features.
     
    It is interesting to note that the broch and church are in close proximity thus suggesting the particular piece of land has remained important to the local community over two millennia. During that time the local language has probably changed from Brittonic (Welsh) to Gaelic to Scots (English) and standard English. 
     

    More information

    For more information on the country's history and Scotland in general please refer Visitors’ Guide to Scotland, ISBN 978-1-9161332-0-4. This book is also available via Kindle.

     
     

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