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MHG3756 - Stone circle - Torbreck

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NH64SW 1 6437 4037.

(NH 6437 4037) Stone Circle (OE)
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 2nd ed., (1906)

A complete circle consisting of nine stones, at a short distance from which are two other stones, supposed to be the remains of an outer Circle.
Name Book 1868.

The circle at Torbreck seems to have been interfered with in improving the field in which it stands. At one time three concentric circles, with a passage connecting the outer and inner rings were visible.
J Fraser 1884.

The site was visited by G.F. Brown in c.1920 and photographed by Esmé Smythe (?): This is a very pretty little circle of unusual type near Ness Castle. It is of about the dimensions of the average inner ring of the set of three concentric circles of Nairn and Inverness. It stands in a large open field under plough on a slightly raised saucer-like circle of old grass turf. There are nine stones, the one to the right fallen, the one on this side of it propped by a large block. The tallest stone is about 6½ feet high. The two tallest stones have rather the air of flankers, but the little circle is as unlike anything to be seen in Aberdeen as can well be conceived. If it is a lone circle it is difficult to see its purpose. The local tradition is that people went there "to pray to the stones." If it is the innermost of three concentric circles, as the practice of the neighbourhood would suggest, there is no sign at all of the large number of great stones that must have been round it, and the stones are unusually fine for an innermost circle of three, besides which, the innermost circle was usually of stones closely packed together. <1>

Fraser's plan shows a circular setting of nine evenly spaced upright stones with an external diameter of 17 ft. It does not appear to be part of a chambered cairn; Fraser suggested the stones had been moved but it seems more likely that it is a stone circle.
A S Henshall 1963, visited 11 April 1957.

Stone Circle:- A stone circle of 9 almost evenly spaced monoliths (maximum height 1.2m) with an overall diameter of 7.8m. A quantity of small stones lies upon the site, but these appear to be the result of field clearance. The site lies within a cultivated field. There are no traces of an outer circle.
Visited by OS (J L D) 22 March 1962.

Site remains unchanged.
EB 14/7/03

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Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 6437 4038 (40m by 40m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH64SW
Civil Parish	INVERNESS AND BONA
Geographical Area	INVERNESS

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