[From List of Manx Antiquities, 1930]

KIRK ANDREAS.

Pre-Christian Remains.

1. Tumulus, Gob Gorm, Blue Point. About a quarter of the mound is still standing 2 to 3 ft. high, in 1928 ; above the w. side of the opening to the shore of a little glen, 100 yds. N.W. of Balladuggan house. Flints found. Proc.I, p. O.S. II/8

2 Knock y doonee. Tumulus 1¾m. N.N.W. of the Parish Church and ¾ mu. S. of Rue Point. Examined in 1927 and found to contain a small example of the Scandinavian type of Ship-burial, dating probably about 900 to 950 A.D. Iron implements and weapons. M. Antiquaries Journal, April 1930, p. 126. O.S. II/8

3. Smeale. Tumulus by the side of the highroad from Kirk Bride, opposite the entrance to the farm. Examined in 1928, and found to be of Bronze age. Cinerary Urn (broken) M. O.S. III/5

4. Cronk Roy. A large mound on the E. side of the Lough, Gat e whing. This has not been opened and possibly may be a natural formation. O.S. 11/8

5. Ballamacskeily. Tumulus near the highroad to the Lhen, 100 yards N.N.W. of School O.S. 11/8

6. Urns found in ‘Chapel Field,’ about 170 yards N.E. of Keeill Tushtag. It is still remembered that several Urns were found here and reburied. O.S. III/5

7. Tumulus, Leodest, 330 yds. NW. of house. Now 30 ft. diam. and 4 ft. high. Pottery. O.S. II/12

8. Ballakelly. Tumulus about 370 yards S.E. of house, 36 ft. diam. by 9 ft. high, surrounded by a trench 3 to 4 yards wide. O.S.. II/16

9. Ballaghaue. Tumulus about 115 yards S.E. of house. O.S. III/13

10. Stone Cists found about 130 yards S.W. of the Parish Church. O.S. III/13

11. Ballavarry. Tumulus at entrance of avenue, 400 yds. N.W. of house; Urn found. O.S. II/16

12. Knoc Ean. Tumulus about 470 yds. N.N.E. of Ballalheaney house and about 370 yd.s. w. of Ballacoarey. O.S. III/13

13. Guilcagh; ¼ mile N.E. of house. Levelled. O.S. II/16

14. Ballaseyr. Tumulus about 100 yds. N. of house. Opened in 1885 ; red sand, about 24 ft. diam. by 5 ft. high cinerary Urn found, M. Y.L.M., 52-4. O.S. III/13

Earthworks.

1. Cashtal ree Gorree, on slight projection of the brooghs 212 yds. S.W. of the tumulus of Gob Gorm. the old name of the estate, Balyhamig in 1515, is traced by Mr. Kneen to the Scandinavian Hafirar or Hamnarvik, i.e. Harbour creek,— J.J.K., p. 581. O.S. II/8

2. The Buggane, Lagagh mooar, 133 yds. S.W. of smithy and about 300 yds. N.N.E. of Ballacunner. Worked Flints. O.S. III/5

3. Cronk y Cat, Smeale beg, over ¼ mile S.E. of Keeill tushtag house there seems to have been a small Fort here. On a natural rounded hill with level platform on the top, Mr. Sayle remembers a low circular mound of earth and boulders, removed in his boyhood. (O S. III/5)

4, Fort by the Lhen; this may be Hanmer’s Hould, 1595, (J.J.K., p.595). About 500 yds. N.W. of Ballakelly and s.w. of Kiondroghad; 33 ft. diam. and 3 ft. high, with ditch about 3 yds. wide. Flints found. O.S. II/12

5. Fort, A.M., in field 160 yds. S.W. of the Church. This appears to have been a ‘Meeting Place’ in 1644 (Moore,I, 245). Proc.I, 176 O.S. III/13

6. Fort, A.M., Ballachurry, Kerrowgarroo, about 370 yds. N. of the house, probably erected by James, 7th Earl of Derby, about 1640; rectangular, 50 by 40 yds., with bastions. Unfinished as shown by the plan in the British Museum. Proc. I, 124. O.S. IV/4

Keeills or Chapels.

These are described, with plans and illustrations, in the Third Report, Arch. Survey, 1911.

I, Knock y doonee. Judging from time old name of the Treen, Kyrke Asston, Mr. Kneen (p. 597) thinlcs that this would originally have been Doonagh Easconn, Treen of Baly nessai and Kyrke Asston, Ruins of Ch, with BG.,about 300 yds. N,N.W. of house. the stone pillar with inscriptions in Ogams and in Roman Capitals, stood a few feet w. of the doorway of the Chapel, and the early Cross-slab, 37, was found loose within the walls. O.S. II/8

2. Site of Keeill Tushtag, Treen of Smeale. Ch. and B.G. 600 yds. S. of the highroad from Bride, at Smeale beg. O.S. III/5

3. Site of Keeill, Ballagonnell, near the w. end of Balla colum, treen of Ballyhamyg. On the N. side of the road from Andreas village to the Lhen, about 100 yds. w. of house. The late Archdeacon Moore thought this had been called ‘S. Martin’s,’ but it is mentioned as ‘Keeill Columb, near Ballacolum’ in Mx. Soc. v. 197, and the name of the adjoining farm suggests rather a Columban foundation. It is still remembered that the foundations were removed when the Tower was being built at the Church. A stone basin, called a Font, was found which an old man used as a cooking vessel till it broke and was taken away with the other stones. Glass beads found. (O.S. II/12)

4. Site of Keeiil at Cronk Keeilh Traie, on the shore of the old Malar Logh, Ardonan, Treen of Molynlawne. At the boundary with the parish of Lezayre, about 100 to 150 yds. S.E. of house. (O.S. V/1)

5. Site of Keeill Crump. By the highroad opposite the entrance to Ballakelly, Treen of Leodest. (O.S. II/12)

Fair Grounds.

1. A Fair was held at the Lhen, Andreas, on Whit Monday, recorded from 1814 to 1834. This was at the mouth of the Lhen, adjoining Ballacolum. J.J.K., Proc. iii, n.s. 70.

2. Fair on S. Andrew’s day, Laa’l Andreays, 30 Nov., (O.S.) i.e. 11 Dec., held till recently.

3. S. John the Evangelist, Laa'l Eoin syn Oilick, i.e. John’s Feast day in Christmas, 27 Dec., discontinued after 1834.

Sacred or Healing Wells.

At Keeill Tushtag, about m. N. of the Keeill and 680 yds. N. of the house. This was visited ‘when the Books were open,’ i.e. during Divine Service. Offerings of coins, pins, etc., to the present day. O.S.. III/

Watch and Ward Stations.

‘Sonday Hill’ i.e. Knoc y doonee, is given as the Hill of the Day Watch and also the Post for the Night Watch. C.R.P. 1627.

Loose Relics.

Flints on eroded blown sand, m. E. of Tumulus, Blue Point. G.W.L. Flakes by the Lhen, at Curragh y cowle and Lagagh mooar, Ballakelly, M. on W. Craig, S. Jude’s, Y.L.M. II, 174-6. Worked Flints, Ballabirrag. G.W.L.

Polished-stone axe-head, M. 1251. Two axe-heads, M. 601, with a number of Flint Flakes from Loughvooar.

Bronze axe-heads, M. 792, 11 and 16. Ornaments in the British Museum; reproductions of these and of others from the Isle of Man, may be seen in the Manx Museum, viz. Gold Disc, 1782; Silver Torque and Armlet, Ballacamaish, 1868. M.

Querns. Upper Stones 2, Lower Stone 1, fragments of 7 others. M.

Inscribed Stone. Bilingual from Knock y doonee, M. 5.

Cross-slabs. 36, 37, 60, 99, 109, 111, 113, 121, 128, 131, under the Cross-shelter at the N. side of the Church.

Sundials. One made by Brew, the Lhen, 18 10-20. Slate, horizontal. M. 884.

The Mylecharaine Cross (silver) from Gat ny thieyn, w. of Craig. Lost. Mx. Soc. XXI, 106. Gold Whistle in the form of a Cavalier’s boot, from the Ballacurry Fort. Lost. Glass Bead from Ballagonnel Keeill. Fragment of Bronze pan and shoe-buckle, Knock y doonee, M.

Iron rush-light holders (5), M..

Coins. In 1834, ‘a large gold coin’ found. In 1866, about 100 silver coins found in the Churchyard when digging the foundations for the Tower. Dates of Edgar and Edwy. Mx. Soc. xvii, 44. In 1874, several coins of a similar kind were found in digging a grave. 75 of the coins from Andreas are in the Museum.