Shetland Folk-Lore
is a hollow in the side of Vaalafell south of Collister, and distant from the broch about two miles. True, there is a quarry here said to be the broch quarry, but the stones are not of the same kind as those used in the construction of the broch. The stone found in the Scraers quarry is soap-stone, commonly called in Shetland clamal or clebber. Now, although the stones for the broch were not taken from here according to tradition, yet I shall show what appears to be a relation between this quarry and the true broch quarry. Some years ago, when in this neighbourhood, my attention was drawn to a large hollow in the Brae o’ Newgord, a short distance from the shore and right opposite the Broch Holm. The hollow had evidently been a stone quarry, and on enquiry I learned that it locally bore the name of Berg-grave. It was from here, I presume, that the stones for the broch were taken. My reason for this belief rests on the fact that the stone here is of the same nature as that used in the
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