[From List of Manx Antiquities, 1930]

KIRK MAUGHOLD.

Pre-Christian Remains.

MEGALITHIC.

1. Ballafayle Cairn, A.M. 433 yds. N.W. of Ballafayle house, on the E. side of the lane from Ballajora to Ballaglass which separates it from the Rullic ny Quakeryn. A horned Barrow, without chambers or passage. Burial by cremation. Proc. iii, p. 151. (O.S. VIII/4)

2. Cairn of Ballachrink, A.M. 383 yds. N.W. of house and about ½m s.w. of Coma Cornmill. A Chambered Barrow, about 105 ft. long by 80 ft. wide at the w. end, tapering to 60 ft. at the E. Great stones on end form an incurved facade to the W., with Port-hole leading to the chambers. O.S. VIII/7

3. Tumulus, Ballastole, about ¼m E. of Claghbane house. Cist, pottery and burnt bones found when opened in 1850. (0.S. V/10)

4. Site of Cairn, Ballaterson E., at 300 yds. N.E. of house, Proc. n.s. i, pp. 184, 469. (O.S. V/16)

5. Parish Churchyard. Two Urns found, 1834, at 30 ft. S.E. of the Church. Fragments of Urn in the embankment on its E. side, about 84 yds. E. of the church. (O.S. V/16)

6. Stone cist found 100 yds. S. from the summit of Maughold Head. O.S. V/16

7. Site of Tumulus, Ballaberna, 100 yds. N.W. of Parochial School. Levelled about 1873. O.S. VIII/3

8. Remains of Tumulus with Cist, about 500 yds, E. of last and 333 yds. N.W. of Ballajora. (O.S. VIII/4)

9. Tumulus at head of Coma valley, 300 yds. w.of Powder Magazine, (about 200 yds. below the Park Llewellyn track), 30 ft. diam. by 6ft. high. (O.S. VIII/5)

10. Craig ny mult. Urn fragments found. M. (O.S. VIII/3)

11 Ballellin. Cist. (O.S. VIII/ii)

12. Thalloo Mitchell. Urns found. (O.S. Vill/il)

13. Tumulus near Farm buildings, Barony. (O.S.VIbI/11)

14-36. Cairns around Keeill Vael, Barony. Thirteen in all, but now scarcely traceable. There were also several large standing stones, now removed. Proc. n.s. ii. p. 15. .O.S VIII/1.b.

37, Carnane breck. Barony; Stone circle 270.. yds. N.E. of Kione ny hennin. Tumulus. O.S. Vili/li.

38. Cist found near granite quarry, Dhoon. (O.S. VIII/11)

39. Tumuli. Urns found. Dreem y jeeskaig. (0.S. VIII/15.)

40. Mr. Kneen, Add. 626, mentions a name Coona hay, i.e. Coan ny hoaie, Hollow of the grave. Site not identified.

Settlements.

Cronk Aeradh, i.e. Hill of Shielings, on the S. side of Coma valley, about mid-way between two deeply-cut stream. lets and opposite a point which is half way between Coma farm house and Keeill Woirrey; it is about 60 yds. below the track on the 954 level. A Circle, 4 yds. diam. and double circle of large stones, with other remains, led the late Canon Harrison to think that this was the site of an early settlement. (O.S. VIII/6)

Earthworks.

1. Recent. Site of Gun platform on the Quay N. of Harbour Office, Ramsey. This must be since 1800 when the harbour was cut through the Mooragh, and probably about 1816, when Batteries were erected on Douglas Head and Peel. Two of the guns are now preserved in the Stone Fort, S. Michael’s Isle. (O.S. V/11)

2. Site of Gun platform on shore opposite the R.C. Chapel of S. Maughold. Mr. Kneen, p. 308, records: ‘Ramsey ffort; 1858 Man. Roll’ as ‘Built by the Earl of Derby for the protection of Ramsey.’ (O.S. V/il)

3. Site of Fort, Ballure. About 200 yds. E. of S. Mary’s Chapel, now carried away by the sea. Entire in 1820 slight trace remaining at time of O.S. (about 40 ft. diam. shown on the map.) Oswald says it was similar to that at S. Mark’s: ‘the circular redoubts of both being high and strong and enclosed by a ditch.’ O.S. VIII.

4. Remains of Battery, Gob ny rona. Cashtal Ar, i.e. E. Castle. J.J.K., p. 285. O.S. V/11.

5. Remains of Fort S. of last, round Gob ny rona. (O.S. V/il)

6. Traces of Fort, Gob ny garvain—the Rhaa mooar, i.e. Great Fort, 1743.—A.W.M., 2nd Ed., p. 100. ‘The rocky point below is called Gob yn Cashtal.’ J.J.K., p~ 308. This is at the S. end of Port Mooar, nearly ~ m. E. of Ballafayle house. O.S. VIII/4.

7. Earthwork, Lieh eayst, i.e. Half Moon. On the Braides at the head of Coma valley in a line with the wall on rising ground facing E., about 486 yds. s.w. of the Powder Magazine. Diam. 24 yds. (0.5. VIII/5)

A ‘Fort in the plantation near the Dhoon Bridge’, mentioned in Mx. Soc v.. p. 6o, is not marked on O.S., nor is it traceable. (OS. VIII/15)

Keeills or Chapels.

These are described, with Plans and illustrations, in the Fourth Report of the Arch. Survey, 1915.

1. S. Mary’s Chapel, Ballastole, Treen of Balyure. On an ancient site. O.S. V/11

2. Folieu, Treen of Lewaige. Lintel graves found in draining, 1905, from one of which was taken a small, flat pebble of slate, 3 in. long, having a Cross engraved on each face. Given by Mr. Groves to the Museum. This site was on the N. side of Port y vullin, 70 yds. N. of highroad and 130 yds. w. of the stream. (O.S. V/15)

3. Site of Ch. and B.G. w. of Ballaterson, Treen of Balytersyn. On the N. side of Gob Ago quarry road, about 7 yds N.E. of highroad from Ramsey. Lintel graves. From this site came the Guriat slab which for many years stood on the hedge by the road. (O.S. V/15)

4. The Parish Church is on an early site and shows architectural details of 11th to 15th c. The churchyard was of unusual size and contained at least four other churches, each with its little enclosed cemetery, together with traces of buildings and supposed hearths. From the northern end, a broad Fosse, 5ft. deep (filled in in 1865) came down to the E.boundary to meet a wall at the South. The Fosse had on its W. side a substantial bank with a core of dry-stone walling, 6ft. wide. Urns were found in the bank. O.S. V/16

In the Churchyard, which represents the ancient Celtic Monastery, are sites of Chapels, viz :-

5. Site of West Keeill, about 10 yards N.W. of the Church porch, now occupied by recent graves.

6. Remains of the North Keeill, (13ft. 6in. by 9ft. 2in.) at the highest point of the churchyard, about 30 yards from the N. wall and 20 yards from the W., with its separate enclosure. Lintel graves and two Cross-slabs.

7. Foundations of Middle Keeill, (19ft. by 11ft. 6in.) are seen at about 35 yds. N. of the E. gable of the Church. Anglian cross- slabs.

8. Remains of E. Keeill (21 ft. by 11ft.) about 69 yards E.S.E. of the Church. Here also early Cross-fragments were found. A Well had been made cutting into the S.E. corner of the Keeill at a later date, and there were traces of later buildings upon and by the side of the Keeill.

These four Keeills and the Cross-house with its contents and the 14-15 c, Standing Cross at the gates have now been constituted Ancient Monuments. (O.S. V/16)

9. Site of Ch., Ballagilley, at the foot of the E. shoulder of Barrule. About 167 yds. w. of highroad. Fragment of Scandinavian Cross-slab, 133. (O.S. V/15)

10. Rullic ny Quakeryn, A.M. Site given in 1672, by William Callow, as a B.G. for Quakers, Intack. By the side of the old road from Ballajora to Ballaglass. This was found to have been on the site of an early Christian cemetery, with doubtless its Ch., and several Lintel Graves have been found in and beyond it. O.S. VIII/4

11. Site of Ch. Ballaglass, Treen of Cardall. About 200 yds. N.W. of house and 370 yds. E. of highroad. Cross-slab, 57. (O.S. VIII/3)

12. Remains of Ch. and B.G., Cardle veg, Treen of Cardall, 117 yds. w. of highroad. About 18ft. in length of the S. wall remains; many lintel graves have been found and a supposed Font. O.S.VIII/3

13. Ruins of Keeill Chiggart, (20ft. by 11ft.) with B.G., Ballafayle, Treen of Balyfayle. About 300 yds. below the road and 187 yds. E. of house. The people say ‘the priests were buried here, the common people at Ballajora.’ Cross-slab, 79. O.S. VIII/4

14. Ruins of Keeill Woirrey, Coma, (13 ft. 6in. by 9ft.6in.) Treen of Cornay more. On the s. slope of Barrule overlooking Coma valley; 470 yds. w.s.w. of farm house and 290 yds. N. of miners’ road. Cross-slabs, 33, 40, 114, and early graves. O.S. VIII/6

15. Site of Ch. in the Bwoaillie Caballagh, Ballachrink, Treen of Cornay beg. About 239 yds. S. of Ballachrink Cairn. (O.S. VIII/7)

16. ‘The old Church.’ Site of Ch. and B.G., Ballacorteen, Treen of Cornay beg. (O.S. VIII/11)

17. Rullic Keeill Vael. Foundations (20 ft. by 11ft.) of Ch. with B.G., near the highest point of the Barony. 0.S. VIlI/11

18. A Cross-slab, 56, was found on Ard Cooillean, above the Rhennie, on the E. slope of Slieau Ruy, where there might have been a Keeill. (O.S, VIII/11)

19. Ecclesia Sancti Olavi, on a small estate called Euastad, mentioned in a Charter of Godred, circ. 1154, has not been identified—J.J.K., p. 294.

Fair Grounds.

A Fair, 25 March, formerly held at Keeill Woirrey, Corna, was transferred in 1826 to Corna Bridge and thence, in 1835, to Ramsey. On Laa’l Maghald toshee, Maughold’s Chief Feast Day, 31 July, O.S., (11 Aug.) 1740; disappeared after 1830. This must have been held at the Parish Church. In 1647, a Fair was appointed to be kept at Ramsey on S. Bartholomew’s day, of which however this is the only record. On Laa’l Maghald geuree Maughold’s Winter Feast Day, was a Fair, 15 Nov., O.S. (26 Nov.) Machud Ep. which was transferred to Ramsey and survived till recently—J.J.K., p.75.

Sacred or Healing Wells.

1. Chibbyr y Woirrey, Ramsey. In the meadow below the Parsonage, near half a mile N.W. of Ballure Chapel. O.S. V/10

2. Chibbyr Vaghal, Maughold Head. On steep E. slope overlooking the sea,½m. N. of the Church. Offerings. O.S. V/16

3. Chibbyr y Chrink, in Garey yn cleragh. (O.S. V/16)

4. Chibbyr lieh laa, or Malaa. Near the Keeill on Cardleveg. Good for sore eyes. (O.S. VIII/3)

5. Chibbyr Woirrey, Ballafayle. About 200 yds. N.E. of house and 150 yds. N. of Keeill Chiggyrt. (0.S. VII 1/4)

6. Chibbyr y gheill, i.e. Well of springs, Rhenab. (0.S. VIII/7). Mr. Kneen mentions the name Chibbyr Lattaige (site not identified) in 1783 Man. Roll, which he suggests may be a corruption of Noo Taige, S. Tadhg, whose feast was kept on 8 July

7. Loghan Keeill Vael, Barony. 200 yds. N. of Keeill. O.S. VIII/11

8. Chibbyr a vashtee, Barony. 333 yds. E.N.E of Keeill. (o.S. vili/li)

Watch and Ward Stations.

Hill for the Day Watch, Slewlage, and Maghalds Head. Port for Night Watch on the coast, Ramsey. C.R.P. 1627. 1, A circular platform of burnt bones and soil on Cronk Dhoo, Folieau, which is the northern face of Slieau Lewaigue, is the reputed site of a Beacon. About 50 ft. diam., with height at N. end 3 ft. forming a level area inside; 2, Renaige, possibly the shore at the foot of Ballure glen; 3, Port Donan, which may stand for Dhyrnane,

Loose Relics.

Polished-stone axe-heads, M. 579, 613. Hollowed disc of Anvil-type, M. 624. Pestle from cairn on Ballaterson, 623.

Stone Hammers, 618, 619.

Bronze Axe-heads, M. 793, 798, 804.

Cresset. Craig ny Mult. M.

Decayed fragment of Bog-oak Canoe, Ballajora, 1880, 8ft. by 2ft. by 10in. (now lost) Canon Harrison. Y.L.M.p.70.

Saddle-stone, Ballastole. M. Querns, Upper stones, 3; Lower stones, 3.

Glass Beads from the Church. Mx. Soc. v. p. 206.

Architectural details from the Parish Church, 11th- 16th c.

Cross-slabs in the Cross-house, south of the entrance to the Churchyard:- ii, 21, 24, 32, 33, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 46, 47, 48, 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 68, 69, 70, 79, 80, 82, 84, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 96, 97, 98, 108, 114, 123, 133, 142, 144, 145, 149. A pebble-cross found in a lintel grave at Port y Vullin, M.

Fifteenth Century Standing Cross at the Church gates.

Stone Sarcophagus at the E. gate of the churchyard.

Early Font set in the Wall at the N.W. corner of the Church.

Sundials. On the Church green. Slate, horizontal, square; made by Ewan Christian, 1666. There was formerly an earlier one of brass at Lewaigue, now taken off the Island. In Ramsey, at the Albert Brewery, was a dial, now lost.

‘Iron Swords and Daggers’ from the Churchyard were formerly in the Edinburgh Museum.

Iron Cruisies, 2; Rush-light holders, 2.

Coins. Unique Gold Coin, Solidus of Louis le Debonnaire, 814-840. Found by Canon Harrison, S. of the Church porch, M. Silver Coins, Magher y Kew, Mx. Soc., xvii, p.39. A Gold Coin (?1329) found by Mr. Kissack near the Ballachrink Cairn.