Broch of Borwick
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59°01′52″N 3°21′12″W / 59.031023°N 3.353398°W
Broch of Borwick | |
| Location | Mainland, Orkney |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 59°01′52″N 3°21′12″W / 59.031023°N 3.353398°W |
| Type | Broch |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age |
The Broch of Borwick is an Iron Age broch located on Mainland, Orkney, Scotland (grid reference HY22411678). It is a scheduled monument.[1]
The Broch of Borwick is located 8 kilometres southwest of Dounby on Mainland, Orkney.[2] The broch stands on top of a cliff-top promontory 20 metres above the sea.[3] A small stream runs past the site immediately to the east.[3]
Description
The broch has an external diameter of 17 metres and an internal diameter of 8 metres.[3] The walls which are 3.5 to 5 metres thick currently stand to a maximum height of 2.6 metres.[3] The eastern half of the broch and the entrance passage are well preserved, but the western half has been destroyed by erosion.[2] The entrance passage, which is still lintelled over, is 5.6 metres long with door-checks each formed of a slab set on edge 3 metres from the outside.[3] A guard cell opened off the right of the passage.[3]
The broch was once cut off from the flat land beyond by an outer wall, and there were outbuildings between the wall and the broch.[3]