Burroughston Broch

The Broch of Burroughston is located about 1.5 km south of Ness of Ork, the northern tip of Shapinsay, an island of Orkney. From the Hillock Road, a narrow side road that leads north of Edmonstone one way east toward the grassy hills that surround the Broch.

The Broch of Burroughston is an exceptional design. It was excavated by George Petrie and William Dryden, two actors that occur repeatedly in the history of archeology of Orkney. Promoted by the sensational discoveries in the megalithic site of Maes Howe presented David Balfour, the Lord of the Manor at Balfour Castle in 1862, some workers are available to open the mound.

The result was the discovery of a well preserved Broch with strong outer walls. Access the Broch is directed towards the sea and a deep ditch between two mounds surrounded him probably completely. Between the Broch and the ramparts were discovered traces of buildings. In the passage of the outer wall, a low gear to a guard cell leads within the wall, which is covered by a fine corbelled, reminiscent of the workmanship in Mine Howe Mainland.

Unlike the Broch of Gurness or the Broch of Midhowe only the interior of the Broch was excavated. This allows today from the outer wall to the inner look down structures. The outer wall rises still partially up to three meters in height. As is usual in such structures, there is a staircase that is inserted into the wall. In the wall several small niches and large chambers are installed.

Within the Broch remains of devices and equipment are obtained, similar to those of Bu or Gurness. In the center of Broch's a modern metal grill covers a hole in the ground where a source might have been. There is also a certain similarity with the step well, which leads in Mine Howe in the underground.

Over the following 130 years the Burroughston Broch fell and the walls were in danger of collapsing. In 1994, the walls were consolidated and eliminated damage. On Broch, one can observe seals