caithness-1911/05_210

Transcription

INVENTORY OF MONUMENTS, ETC., IN COUNTY OF CAITHNESS. [Page] 125

PARISH OF THURSO.

of the Bishop's Castle and the burn at Scrabster House is known as
the Bishop's Walk.
See Origines, ii., pt. ii. pp. 611 and 754 ; Macfarlane's Geog. Coll.
i. p. 172 ; Forbes' Journals, p. 198.
O.S.M., CAITH., v. Visited, 13th August 1910.

450. Construction, Ushat Head. - At the edge of the bank above
the rocks about 1/2 m. E. of Mains of Brims, there are exposed the
remains of what appears to be an early structure. The plan is
indefinite, but the surface mounds suggest an oblong building with
rounded ends.
O.S.M., CAITH., iv. (unnoted). Visited, 8th August 1910.

451. Fortified Site, West Murkle. - Just opposite the termination
of the farm road which leads past West Murkle farm is a small
promontory across the landward end of which is a wall or rampart
measuring some 8' to 10' in thickness, 8' in height from the landward
side, and 6' to seaward. The end and sides of the promontory are
much eroded and there is no trace of the structure, if any, which
formerly existed in rear of the defence.
O.S.M., CAITH., vi. ("Brough"). Visited, 20th August 1910.

452. Cairn, Hopefield. - Of the cairn at Hopefield indicated on the
the O.S. map there is now hardly a trace, as a road has been cut
through the middle of it.
O.S.M., CAITH., v. Visited, 17th August 1910.

453. Mound, "Cnoc an Taillir." - The O.S. map indicates a small
mound bearing the name of "Cnoc an Taillir," on the N. end of
Sordale Hill, in an angle of the moorland adjoining the cultivated
land, about 1/3 m. NW. of the cairn "Cnoc na Ciste" (No. 442), near
the summit of the hill,
O.S.M., CAITH., xii.

454. Wall (remains), Brims. - About 1 1/4 m E. of Mains of Brims
is a long promontory rock lying parallel with the shore cliffs and
separated from them by a deep and narrow geo. Running along the
edge of the rocks above this geo are the remains of a wall, but on
the promomtory in rear of it there is no sign of any structure visible.
O.S.M., CAITH., v. ( "Brough"). Visited, 8th August 1910.

455. Brough, Oust. - In the stackyard of the steading at Oust are two
small excavations which have probably been the well and cellar of a
broch. The westmost of the two, which appears to have been a
cellar or store, is roughly rectangular, about 5' square, having the
lower part cut out of the solid rock and finished above with a con-
verging roof covered with slabs. The greatest height is 5' 4" above
the present floor level. It is reached by a steep flight of fourteen
steps cut out of the rock, measuring 6" in breadth of tread. The
stairway is 2' wide. The vertical height from the present floor level
to the level of the top step is 8' 6" and to the ground 11' 3". Some
5' distant is the other excavation, entered from the opposite direction.
It is a mere shaft, measuring about 2' square, down one side of which
are seven steps or shelves formed of thin flags built into the wall,