Note 75 — LECTURE IV. (28th October 1881.) THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE BROCHS.
Reading edition
Having mislaid my measurements of the doorways of Caithness Brochs, I am unable to give examples from that county. But I am favoured, by the Rev. Dr. J. M. Joass of Golspie, with the following measurements of the doorways of Sutherlandshire Brochs:—
Height of Doorway. Breadth of Doorway.
Above. Below.
Ft. In. Ft. In. Ft. In.
Broch of Carnliath—
Door in Outworks 5 9 2 10 3 9
Door in Broch Wall—
Outer Opening 6 6 2 5 2 9
In middle of Passage 6 0 2 7 3 0
Inner Opening 6 6 3 0 3 5
Broch of Kintrolla—
Door in Broch Wall—
Outer Opening 7 0 3 0 3 6
In middle of Passage 5 5 2 3 2 8
Inner Opening 4 11 1 9 2 9
Broch of Backies—
Door in Broch Wall—
(2 feet of rubbish in passage,
height above that 4 feet.)
Outer Opening 2 11 3 3
In middle of Passage 2 1 2 6
Inner Opening 2 9 3 8
I learn from Mr. W. G. T. Watt that the doorway of the Broch of Burwick, near Stromness, in Orkney, which is 5 feet 2 inches in height, measures 3 feet 1 inch in width at the top, and 3 feet 5 inches at the bottom. From these examples and the measurements of the doorways of Shetland brochs by Sir Henry Dryden, it may be held as demonstrated that the characteristic feature of inclined instead of perpendicular door-jambs, which was constant in the constructions of the early Christian time, was also characteristic of the Brochs.