West Burrafirth Broch

Haroldswick, United Kingdom

Borgarfjörð, the 'fjord of the borg', now West Burra Firt, was so named by the Norsemen on account of the borg (broch) or 'Pictish tower', which still stands on the little holm north of West Burra Firth pier, now greatly ruined. The broch dates to the very early 1st century AD and in the 19th century was 'connected with the land by a bridge of large stepping-stones over which the sea flows at full tide.' The diameter is 18 m and the walls are an average of 4.6 m thick. The stone still stands eight or nine courses high in places.

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