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Publication Account

Date 2002

Event ID 575323

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Publication Account

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/575323

HU25 4 BURGA WATER 2 (‘Holm of Burga Water’)

HU/234540

Thought to have been a possible broch in Walls and Sandness, occupying the whole surface of an islet in a loch of the same name [2], it has recently been visited and diagnosed as a relatively thin-walled dun [1] (but see HU42 1, Burraland where the wallhead is thin because it stands relatively high although mainly concealed under its own debris). The site was “torn up by Mr sand some years ago” [3].

Part of the crudely built outer wall face, rising to a height of three or four courses above debris, is exposed; it is only 2.5 - 1.0m thick [1].

There is supposed to have been a causeway to the shore [4] but this can no longer be seen [2] and soundings failed to locate it [1]. In 1774 the site was seen from the shore by George Low who described it as a 'Pight's castle' with the wall standing to about 7 ft. [5].

Sources: 1. OS card HU 25 SW 5 (with sketch plan): 2. RCAHMS 1946, vol. 3, no. 1606, 146: 3. Spence 1899, 53: 4. Statistical Acct. 1798, xx, 112-13; 5. Low 1774.

E W MacKie 2002

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