Tappoch (Tapock) Broch

As I have found no information on the meaning of the word Tapock (now spelled Tappoch), I will take my best guess. The Broch stands on Tapock which is the highest point in Torwood. ‘Tap’ is a commonly used pronunciation in Scotland for ‘top’. ‘Ock’ can mean small, as in Hillock. Tapock = small-top ? — I look forward to hearing the real explanation.

I believe there have been several publications about the Broch but I have only read the report by Colonel Dundas and on the strength of that, I will jump in with both feet — OK, you know what I mean! In 1864, the Broch was excavated by Colonel Joseph Dundas F.S.A. Scot. of Carronhall. You can read Colonel J. Dundas’s report here.

Interestingly, Colonel Dundas’s report does not mention the word Broch and the plans / drawings are titled a Tumuli (a mound of earth and stones over a grave) and Tumulus is the name recorded for this feature on the 1861 Ordnance Survey map. He does not mention any surprise at finding no bodies or skeletal remains. He does refer to ‘the chamber’ and ‘the floor of the house’.

Dundas never seems to realise that this is a Broch. Brochs were very common in the North and West but here in lowland Scotland they were almost unheard of.

A conventional Broch, the ‘mother-of-all cavity wall projects’ with inner and outer walls each being about 2.5 metres thick, stood on average around 9 metres tall.

Extract from Colonel Dundas’s report (page 260):
After the removal of an immense mass of large stones and rubble with which the chamber was filled, and which was thrown over on the east side of the mound to the amount of upwards of 200 tons, we found ourselves in a large chamber, of an irregular circular form, 106 feet in circumference.

200 tons — does that sound impressive? It would have raised the height of the Broch by about one metre.
That's fine, if all you want to do is hide from a short person, but hardly a magnificent structure. We are short of about 2,000 tons of stone.

So where did all the stone go?
Let us speculate. I am a Master Castle Builder (I know the secret hand-shake) and I have been asked to build a castle in Torwood [not the current one, the one before that]. Seemingly old Morag with the second-site has predicted an invasion by an army of chaps with posh accents and a king with very long legs. I don’t believe a word of it, but work has been slack recently and I am glad to have the contract.

Cut stone is a very expensive product. I sit on the Tapock looking over the Forth Valley.
Only one decent road (don’t mention the Romans). Everything has to be moved along country tracks little better than animal paths.
Where is a good source of local stone?
What is the cost of transporting just two big stones on a horse-drawn two-wheeled cart?
I can feel my margins being squeezed but it’s just the sharp edge of the stone I am sitting on.
I stand up and take note of the ancient and abandoned old Broch behind me. Enough stone to build two castles! — and a little conservatory on the side.
One wheelbarrow, one stone and one man running frantically downhill trying to keep up with said barrow — ten minutes — job done — the decision is an easy one.

When my castle eventually becomes a ruin, as all castles do, the stone will be used to build something else.
Old Morag was sipping some vile smelling brew the other day when she mumbled something about an Alexander Forrester, from Garden, and a fancy Mansion House. That woman really needs a man in her life.

Think of Hadrian’s Wall (sometimes you have to mention the Romans). A magnificent stone structure that is now only a quarter of its original height.
Where did all the stone go?
It is born again and part of farm houses, outbuildings and sheep-pens all along the length of the old Roman boundary that caused the Scottish pound note to look different from the English pound note.
I can imagine Calum the Caledonian at the security checkpoint, insisting to the Roman officer who has just refused a bribe, “I think you’ll find, that Pound-note is ‘Legal Tender’ by the way!”

The Cupboards

Small openings appear to have been deliberately created in the wall as storage space but it is now getting difficult to identify them especially when the bracken gets to around two metres high.

They could have been for the outdoors stuff like wellington boots and sprung-loaded haggis traps. There may well have been similar cupboards at all floor levels in the Broch.

Calum would need a place to keep his sporran-brush and blue makeup and Mari would need a place to keep her aspirin.
It’s anyone’s guess what old Morag keeps in hers — no one is daft enough to put a hand in there.

These recesses may well have been anchor points for timeber framing within the Broch.

Best Time to Visit Tappoch Broch

Basically before the bracken gets established so before the end of May and preferably after a few days without rain.

Around mid May, you should see the Rhododendrons in flower and, with a bit of luck, the yellow flower will still be on the Gorse and the pretty lambs will be chopping about.

Other perspectives on Tappoch Broch

The Broch is popular with a lot of people. Some record their experiences. If I find any accounts that tickle my fancy, I will put the links below.

Where the Fatdog Walks — A “RUFF” Guide to Wild Scotland

Ken Brown and his dog Maisie (stage name — The Fatdog), armed with a rucksack of Bonios, tramp the wilds of Scotland and Maisie writes a blog to record the events.
This is their walk to Tappoch Broch in winter.

Torwood Castle or Torwood-head Mansion

Still under construction.