Tappoch Broch :: Shared Description
This structure is also sometimes referred to as Torwood Broch. See Link
(at Canmore) for details. Brochs are Iron Age round towers of dry-stone construction, typically consisting of two concentric walls. There would have been several timber floors and a roof in the circular interior space; stairs in the gap between the inner and outer walls would have allowed access to the upper floors. Tappoch Broch was first excavated in 1864, and again several times in the twentieth century. The main entrance can still be seen on the eastern side, and remains of a stairway on the southern side.
The broch is located within Tor Wood. On page 348 of his book "The Celtic Place-names of Scotland" (1926), W J Watson cites this name as an example of a part-translation: in a charter of 1150, the place is referred to as "nemus de Keltor". In the modern form of the name, the earlier "Kel" (from the Gael. "coille") has been replaced by its translation, "Wood", and the two elements of the name switched around: "Keltor" becomes "Torwood".

The broch is located within Tor Wood. On page 348 of his book "The Celtic Place-names of Scotland" (1926), W J Watson cites this name as an example of a part-translation: in a charter of 1150, the place is referred to as "nemus de Keltor". In the modern form of the name, the earlier "Kel" (from the Gael. "coille") has been replaced by its translation, "Wood", and the two elements of the name switched around: "Keltor" becomes "Torwood".
by Lairich Rig
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- Roman Road at Tor Wood
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Created: Wed, 28 Oct 2009, Updated: Fri, 19 Jul 2019
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