Dun Troddan ( gd, Dùn Trodan) is an
iron-age
The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division of the prehistory and protohistory of humanity. It was preceded by the Stone Age ( Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic) and the Bronze Age (Chalcolithic). The concept has been mostly a ...
broch located about southeast of the village of
Glenelg, Highland
Glenelg ( gd, Glinn Eilg, also ''Gleann Eilg'' is a scattered community area and civil parish in the Lochalsh area of Highland in western Scotland. Despite the local government reorganisation the area is considered by many still to be in Inv ...
, in Scotland. It is one of the best-preserved brochs in Scotland.
Location
Dun Troddan () stands on a level rock platform north of the Abhainn a’ Ghlinne Bhig, in the lower reaches of Gleann Beag. It lies just north of the minor road leading south from
Glenelg. It can be accessed via a steep path. The neighbouring broch of
Dun Telve
Dun Telve ( gd, Dùn Teilbh) is an iron-age broch located about southeast of the village of Glenelg, Inverness-shire in the Highland Region of Scotland. It is one of the best preserved brochs in Scotland.
Location
Dun Telve () stands on the ...
lies to the west, whilst the "semi-broch" known as
Dun Grugaig is around to the southeast.
History
Dun Troddan was first sketched in about 1720 when it was still an intact tower.
It is thought that it was over high in 1720, and it was described as being "by far the most entire of any in that Country".
It was robbed for stone in 1722 during the construction of
Bernera Barracks in Glenelg.
The broch was visited by
Thomas Pennant
Thomas Pennant (14 June OS 172616 December 1798) was a Welsh naturalist, traveller, writer and antiquarian. He was born and lived his whole life at his family estate, Downing Hall near Whitford, Flintshire, in Wales.
As a naturalist he h ...
in 1772, and it was still a substantial structure, although it had lost the upper gallery by this time.
It was cleared of "debris" without any supervision and consolidated by the
Office of Works
The Office of Works was established in the English royal household in 1378 to oversee the building and maintenance of the royal castles and residences. In 1832 it became the Works Department forces within the Office of Woods, Forests, Land Reven ...
in the years between 1914 and 1920.
The broch is now in the care of
Historic Environment Scotland
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) ( gd, Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba) is an executive non-departmental public body responsible for investigating, caring for and promoting Scotland's historic environment. HES was formed in 2015 from the mer ...
.
Description
The broch consists of a drystone tower which measures around in diameter, and currently stands to a maximum height of .
The external walls are thick at the base.
The entrance is on the southwest side, and is now roofless.
On the left side of the entrance passage is a small side-chamber, sometimes called a "guard cell".
The broch has features now missing from Dun Telve; these include a number of postholes in the floor and a hearth.
Built into the hearth is a broken
quern-stone
Quern-stones are stone tools for hand- grinding a wide variety of materials. They are used in pairs. The lower stationary stone of early examples is called a saddle quern, while the upper mobile stone is called a muller, rubber or handstone. The ...
.
The central court is an almost perfect circle with a diameter of .
An internal doorway in the remaining high part of the wall provides access to a stairway.
From here it is possible to ascend nine stairs to a first floor landing.
The landing is long, at a height of above the central court.
At the end of the landing can be seen the first step which would have led up the next flight of stairs.
References
External links
Glenelg Brochs: Dun Telve And Dun Troddan Historic Scotland
{{Broch
Archaeological sites in Highland (council area)
Brochs
Historic Environment Scotland properties
Scheduled Ancient Monuments in Highland