Page:Shetland Folk-Lore - Spence - 1899.pdf/59

 Sandness my learned friend, the late Mr Robert Jamieson, wrote to me an interesting letter, from which I shall make the following extract:—

“We have several brochs here. The Broch of Easter has been in its day a gigantic building, double walled, chambered like a bee-hive and fitted up with every convenience. About 1840 the laird of Melby used the stones of it in building about three-fourths of a mile of dyke six feet in height, and left as many stones as would build a castle. In the work of excavation, querns, mallets, knives, pottery, and bones of animals, were found, which now would be considered of the greatest value; but unfortunately the workmen knew nothing and cared nothing about the brochs, Hence the “finds” were gazed at, and wondered at, and then thrown away, perhaps into the sea near which the broch stood. The stones used in the construction of this castle were of large size, and had to be broken up before