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MHG13622 - Broch, Dale House

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Full Description

Dale (NAT) on site of (NAT) Pict's House (NR)
OS 6" map, Caithness, 1st ed., (1877)

The present house of Dale occupies site of a broch now removed. About 1850 a cist, containing bones, was found when digging the foundations of some outhouses but owing to the prevailing superstition it was destroyed by the workmen before anyone in the house could see it. A sandstone quern, which was found when the house was built nearly 200 years ago, is still preserved.
J Anderson 1873.

There is no evidence of a broch at Dale house. The house itself is a plain, harled building, the oldest part of which was built in the 16th century and occupies the centre part of the present building; it has three storeys. No historical association is attached to the house. N and S wings were added in 1910 and 1933 respectively (information from Mrs M Threipland, Dale House, Westerdale).
Visited by OS (E G C) 14 April 1962.

Dale house is as described by the previous field investigator. There is no trace of a broch.
Visited by OS (N K B) 19 February 1982

House, Dale. House dating from 16th century with landscaped grounds.
R J Mercer, NMRS MS/828/19, 1995

ND15 12 DALE 2 (‘Dale House 2’)
ND/1297 5227
Site of possible broch, or 'Pict's house', where the present house of Dale stands [2], but no evidence of its existence is available [1]. A cist with some bones is reported to have been found, and destroyed, in about 1850 when digging the foundations of some outhouses. More recent visits revealed no trace of a broch [1].
Sources: 1. NMRS site no. ND 15 SW 16: 2. Anderson 1890, 185.
ND15 25 DALE HOUSE 1
ND/1297 5232
Possible broch in Halkirk reported to have been on the site of the present Dale House; a red sandstone quern, presumably rotary, was found when it was built.
Sources: 1. NMRS site no. ND 15 SW 16: 2. Anderson 1890, 185: 3. Swanson (ms) 1985, 665. <1>

See also ND15SW 21 Westerdale, Dale House, Dovecot

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Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred ND 1297 5227 (70m by 70m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	ND15SW
Civil Parish	HALKIRK
Geographical Area	CAITHNESS

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