Broomend of Crichie

Ordnance Survey map reference: NJ 779196.

Landranger map number: 38.

Latitude: 57.16 degrees.

Longitude: -2.22 degrees.

Architecture: Circle henge with avenue..

Length of the major axis: 13.7 metres.

Length of the minor axis: 13.7 metres.

Height of the highest stone: 1.57 metres.

Shape: Circle.

Number of stones in the circle originally: 6.

Number of stones in the circle now: 3.

Impression of the site (10 amazing, 1 limp): 3

Burl rating of the circle: 3 (Ruined but recognisable ).

Thom reference for the circle: -.

Astronomical alignments from this circle: -.

Excavations undertaken at this circle: 1855.

Details of any finds at this circle: Urns, Wessex stone axe-hammer, bones.

This circle is not in state care.

Access to the circle:

The circle lies on a piece of disused waste land only a few yards from the side of a road. It is situated at the south side of Inverrurie and is marked as a henge on the Landranger OS map. There is a modern garage close by and the circle is very easy to reach.

The circle henge is in a ruinous state, it is overgrown with grass and a few bushes. The shape of the circle is apparent and the ditch and bank are clearly defined. A few hundred yards away to the south lies an outlying stone. This is a remnant of an 18.3m wide splayed avenue that stretched beyond the circle to a concentric circle around a small cairn. The south stone of the circle which stands 1.44m high has been carved with pictish symbols, it is not an original stone, it came from a bank during the building of the nearby railway. The carvings on it are clearly visible. During excavation a tapering pit was discovered 4.6m wide at the circles centre. It was filled with cobbles which covered a cist containing a skull and leg bones as well as some cremated bone. This circle henge would once have been a spectacular site but is now sadly derelict. It's position at the edge of Inverurie, on what appears to be wasteland, does not do it any favours. Not really worth visiting unless interested in pictish symbols.

Pictish symbols at Broomend of Crichie.

The three stones of the ruinous henge with the solitary remaining avenue stone on the right of the picture.