Page:Shetland Folk-Lore - Spence - 1899.pdf/51



There are several brochs in Nesting, to two of which I shall briefly refer. The Broch of Railsbrough, situated on a small islet or skerry at the east side of Catfirth Voe, appears to have been a building unique of its kind; at anyrate, it is different from any broch I have seen. I examined it about twenty years ago while the stones were being removed for building purposes. It consisted of one circular wall about twenty feet in diameter. I do not think it had been chambered, as the wall did not appear to be very thick—say about four feet. The enclosed circular space was divided into quadrants by four walls meeting at right angles in the centre, like a cross within a circle; and in the centre, at the point where the four walls met, there stood a standing-stone six or seven feet high. These inner walls had been very thin, not more than twelve inches thick, and were built of small stones. A doorway on the east side of the outer wall led into one of the inside