Dun Telve
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Dun Telve | |
  Shown within Highland | |
| Alternative name | Dùn Teilbh |
|---|---|
| Location | Scottish Highlands |
| Coordinates | 57°11′41″N 5°35′41″W / 57.194613°N 5.594653°W |
| Type | Broch |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age |
| Site notes | |
| Ownership | Historic Scotland |
| Public access | Yes |
Dun Telve (Scottish Gaelic: Dùn Teilbh) is an iron-age broch located about four kilometres (2.5 mi) southeast of Kirkton, the main village of the community of Glenelg, Inverness-shire in the Highland Region of Scotland. It is one of the best preserved brochs in Scotland.
Dun Telve (grid reference NG82921726) stands on the north bank of the Abhainn a’ Ghlinne Bhig, in the lower reaches of Gleann Beag. It lies next to the minor road which leads south from Kirkton, the main village in Glenelg. The neighbouring broch of Dun Troddan lies 470 metres (1,540 ft) to the east, and the "semi-broch" known as Dun Grugaig is around 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) further east.[1]
History
The brochs date from the Iron Age, approximately 2000 years ago.[2]
It is thought that the broch was robbed for stone in 1722 (probably for the building of Bernera Barracks in Glenelg).[3] Dun Telve was popular with tourists by the late 18th century, and was first sketched in the late 18th century.[3] It was surveyed in detail in 1871–1873 by Henry Dryden. The building was brought into state care between 1882 and 1901 and the boundary markers that define the area of guardianship are still visible.[3] Around 1914 a programme of works was undertaken by the Office of Works which included "clearing out" the interior, inserting concrete into the upper intramural space and pointing the internal wall-face.[3] The broch has never been archaeologically excavated.[3] The broch is now in the care of Historic Environment Scotland.
