Bow Castle Broch
Bow Castle is the remains of an iron-age broch near the Gala Water, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, in the parish of Stow. It is a scheduled monument.[1]
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 .svg.png.webp){kind=icon} Shown within Scottish Borders | |
| Location | Stow of Wedale |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 55.665942°N 2.857845°W |
| Type | Broch |
| History | |
| Periods | Iron Age |
| Designated | 28 February 1924 |
| Reference no. | SM1162 |
Description
Bow Castle (grid reference NT46134171) stands on level ground on the edge of a steep slope southwest of the valley of the Gala Water.[2] The broch has a wall 4.1 metres thick, enclosing an area 9.7 metres in diameter.[2]
The broch is one of only three remaining in the Borders; the other two are Torwoodlee Broch, and Edin's Hall Broch.
Excavations
It was excavated in 1890 when pottery, including some 2nd-century Roman amphora fragments, were found.[2] In 1922 a 2nd-century Roman enamelled bronze brooch in the form of a cockerel was found among the ruins of the wall.[2]
Information concerning the dating and use of the broch is limited due to the lack of modern excavations.[2] However, Torwoodlee Broch, two miles to the north, was built and destroyed during the Roman occupations of southern Scotland and it is likely that Bow Castle shared a similar history.[2]
References
- Historic Environment Scotland. "Bow Castle, broch 1000m E of Bow (SM1162)". Retrieved 13 March 2019.
- Historic Environment Scotland. "Bow Castle (54520)". Canmore. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
Further reading
- Curle, J. (1892) 'Notes on two brochs recently discovered at Bow, Midlothian, and Torwoodlee, Selkirkshire', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol. 26, Pages 68–70
