News / Broch boffins
A NEW display at Shetland Museum and Archives examines the way scholars and others have been inspired by brochs over the centuries.
The exhibition is contained in a case next to the entrance to the archives entitled Broch boffins: how the generations have viewed Iron Age forts.
The centrepiece of the display is a remarkable drawing by Gilbert Goudie of the broch of Levenwick, showing what it looked like before it was damaged by a great gale in 1900.
The drawing is accompanied by a quotation from Goudie: “From my earliest days, the Broch of Levenwick … was a mysterious object of intense curiosity.
“While a schoolboy in Edinburgh, dreams of the exploring of it and the adjoining sepulchral mounds cost me nights of almost sleepless anxiety, and, at the age of thirteen, armed with a spade and “kaishey”, I proceeded to the spot, determined to undertake it.’”
The display also includes the thoughts of a 17th century minister, a skillful drawing by James T. Irvine of the fort at Burgi Geos in northwest Yell, and a photograph of the excavation of the broch at Jarlshof.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider paying for membership to get additional features and services: -
- Remove non-local ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
