Huxter Fort

The fort was probably built around 300 BC, the generally accepted date of most similar fortifications in the region. It resembles other fortifications such as the Crosskirk Broch, the blockhouse in front of the Broch of Clickimin and the Ness of Burgi fort at Scatness. Presumably these were built by culturally-related people. There are also similarities with stone forts in western Ireland, such as the Dunbeg Fort in County Kerry. This ring fort and blockhouse existed before the other two forts in Whalsay, brochs that were built just before the 1st century AD started. Huxter was standing until the 19th century. When described in 1879, the fort was much less dilapidated than today.