Clachtoll Broch

Clachtoll Broch Project - Launched

CLACHTOLL BROCH PROJECT

About 50 people attended a meeting at Rhu Stoer Hall on 12th October to hear Dr Euan MacKie talk about brochs in general and some of the unique features of the Clachtoll Broch in particular.

The following day there was to be a guided walk to the broch, with two purposes in mind:
1. To alert people to the importance of this unique part of Assynt's heritage and the damage being done to it.
2. To discuss what might be done to secure the site for the future in ways which met the concerns of local people and heritage professionals.

Robin Noble, Chairman of the Community Council and Andy Summers, Senior Highland Ranger outlined their concerns about the safety of the Broch structure and suggested some of the possible ways forward which they thought would be worth exploring – a 3-5 season University based excavation with the opportunity for local people to be involved and open to visitors, the long-term consolidation of the structure and the removal of fallen stone, the creation of a visitor route and interpretation.

Questions and comments were invited from the floor. The meeting was overwhelmingly supportive of the project as a whole, but specific concerns were raised concerning ownership, funding, access, and the kind of organisation which could best move the project on with wide community support.

All of these issues will now become the subject of a Feasibility Study. This will take some time to set up – funding will need to be found, the research undertaken and a report prepared with specific proposals and recommendations. As soon as that is done, another public meeting will be called to consider specific proposals and recommendations and to set up an organisation to implement them.

In the meantime, two encouraging developments have already taken place:
Dr MacKie has agreed to be Patron of the project, and Historic Scotland will shortly be conducting an inspection of the Broch and producing an up-to-date report on its state.

Have you got any photographs of the Clachtoll Broch taken before 1960 – they could be very useful in revealing exactly what damage has been done over the years.

Anyone who has such photos and would let us copy them and anyone who wants to know more about the project or wishes to become involved, please contact Robin Noble on 01571 833246.

Article based on Assynt News report.

For info about Historic Assynt:
Historic Assynt

Clachtoll Broch Entrance

Clachtoll Broch Project - Launched, Scotland