MHG1114 - Broch - Rinsary
Summary
No summary available.
Type and Period (1)
- BROCH (Iron Age - 550 BC to 560 AD)
Protected Status
Full Description
Broch (NR) OS 6" map, (1964)
'High above Berriedale Water on its N bank and about 1/4 ml W of Berriedale Church are the ruins of a broch. The structure much dilapidated and reduced to the lowest courses of masonry on the exterior. In one or two places the outer face of the wall, formed of very large stones, is exposed. The diameter over all is 54ft and the elevation to the top of the conical mound surmounting the ruins, 7 to 8ft. The posituon is flanked on the W by the side of a deep glen, and in front by the high, steep bank of the Berriedale valley.'
RCAHMS 1911, visited 1910.
This site is generally as described above. The thickness of the broch wall and the internal diameter could not be determined due to the heavy mutilation of the site and the mass of rubble that has been piled up in the interior, to give a maximum height of 3.0m. The overall diameter of the broch has been 16.0m, as measured between the exposed wall faces.
A kiln (ND12SW 4.01) has been built into SW segment, and other structures of a depopulated settlement are adjacent to the site.
Visited by OS (J L D) 15 June 1960.
A broch as described above. Surveyed at 1:2500.
Visited by OS (R L) 7 March 1968.
No change. Visited by OS (J M) 24 November 1982.
ND12 2 BERRIEDALE 2 ('Rinsary', 'Berriedale Water 1', 'Berriedale Church') ND/1168 2335
Probable broch in Latheron, Caith-ness, high above the Berriedale Water, and consisting of a conical mound 2.1-2.4m (7-8ft) high containing a very dilapidated circular building; the lowest course of the curved outer wallface is visible in places. The overall diameter is 16.5m (54ft) . On the west is the side of a steep glen and in front is the steep side of the Berriedale valley. A later survey gives the building a diameter of 15.0m on the basis of the outer wallface, which can be traced for more than half its circumference [3]. A later farm-stead, now abandoned, has been built round the broch and one building has been dug into it.
Sources: 1. NMRS site no. ND 12 SW 4: 2. RCAHMS 1911b, 56, no. 205: 3. S. Carter in Discovery and Excavation in Scotland 1999, 57. <1>
Sources/Archives (2)
- --- SHG2664 Text/Report: RCAHMS. 1911. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments and Constructions of Scotland. Third report and inventory of monuments and constructions in the county of Caithness. . 18, No. 46.
- <1> SHG26111 Text/Publication/Monograph: Mackie, E.. 2007. The Roundhouses, Brochs and Wheelhouses of Atlantic Scotland c.700 BC - AD 500: Architecture and material culture Part 2 (I & II) The Northern and Southern Mainland and the Western Islands. BAR British Series. 444. Paperback. ND12 2 BERRIEDALE 2.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred ND 1167 2335 (70m by 70m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | ND12SW |
| Civil Parish | LATHERON |
| Geographical Area | CAITHNESS |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (0)
External Links (2)
- http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/SM577 (Online designation description (Historic Environment Scotland))
- https://canmore.org.uk/site/8100 (View RCAHMS Canmore entry for this site)
Comments and Feedback
Do you have any more information about this record? Please feel free to comment with information and photographs, or ask any questions, using the "Disqus" tool below. Comments are moderated, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible.